Judgement Call
"Judgment Call"
By
M.J. Simmons
(ADULT SITUATIONS: Male on Female, Male on Male or Female on Female. If you are offended by sexually explicit situations or language between, Peoples then please do not read further. Also any Resemblances between this work of Fiction and any person's living or dead, is not intentional.)
[Authors Note: This story does not contain any sexually explicit material, this is an older story called Death Call that I had written back in High School. It had dealt with my though process on having a Member of our U.S. Military making a call on a family to inform them of the passing of a loved one.]
Prologue:
The war had been dragging on for months, and the sad thing was it really was not much of a war. More like a bunch of little skirmishes where people and furs on both sides died. Because of differences of ideas, for the peoples of the United American Nations, which advocated a stance of open tolerance and communion between species such as Human and Anthro, versus the European Union, which was pro-human.
This all came to ahead about two weeks, when a United American fighter group had shot down a European Nations fighter group, which was attempting to force a refugee plan full of furs and skins down. In the course of that battle, the European flight was decimated with the loss of only one American fighter. It was the loss that rankled the Americans...
Captain Jonathan M. Talbot was not happy about it at all, he had flown in to N.A.S. Oceana only two days ago, to a whole lot of fanfare and hoopla, over his victory just two weeks before that. Now he had a final duty to perform, and one he was not looking forward too. Captain Talbot was in command of a Naval fighter squadron know as the "Pukin' Dogs" VF-143. He and his fellow pilots had just returned from what should have been a routine deployment overseas. They where stationed onboard one the United Americas mega carriers and where showing the Flag so to speak around to the other nations of the World, it was on the return leg of that trip that things went wrong.
"Hey Strat... how soon till this patrol ends, I got to take a leak." Lieutenant Micahel "Strat" Kaufman smiled at that comment.
"Not much longer I would think Tomcat, I think you can hold it." He replied to his Radar Intercept officer (RIO), one Lieutenant Thomas "Tomcat" Katt. Both Lieutenants where on a long range Barrier Air Carrier Patrol (aka: BARCAP), there wing man having been forced back about fifteen minutes ago due to a hydraulic malfunction in their craft. Micahel sat back in his seat making himself a little more comfortable in the pilots' seat of the F-14 Super D "Tomcat" that he was piloting. His smile grew a little wider as he thought about that and his RIO's nickname that was intentional, since tom did having the coloring of the infamous mascot of the plane a large gray furred with black-stripped male cat. It had seemed a natural thing to call him, coming out of flight school. Micahels was only just as natural as he had played a Stratocaster guitar or even the one time he has to hold and look at a Stradivarius Violin. Since then, he had lobbied hard for that name and finally had it appended to him as his call sign. Both had been friends growing up in the furry neighbor hood of Norfolk, they had grown up there, dated the same girls got into the same fights, but friends they where. He continued his visual scan outside the cockpit, noting the late afternoon sun, and clear skies. "Perfect flying weather."
"Hey Strat..."
"Not much longer you can still hold it..."
"Not that... I got something here on the radio, it sounds bad..."
"Let me hear it... "
"Attention any one this is Air Atlantic Flight one-zero-three, we are a refugee plane carrying women and children, we are being pursued and hounded by six European Military craft, we request assistance... Attention any one this is Air Atlantic Flight one-zero-three..."
"Tom what is there position..."
"Wait one... Strat, I have them thirteen miles from us, bearing two-one-six degrees true. Why? What are you thinking?"
" Yankee Base.... Yankee base this is Vigilantes three... I have radar contact with an outbound refugee plan request assistance; six EU fighters are harassing them. Request permission to deviate from flight plan to investigate..."
"Vigilantes three... Vigilantes three... You are cleared to investigate, but not engage unless fired upon, repeat investigate, but do not engage. Over..."
"Yankee base. Vigilantes three, orders received and understood."
"Tom, lets do this, get me a tight scramble to that plane..."
"On it"
Micahel turned his plane on its new course and goosed the throttle a bit as they speed to the stricken liner.
"Mic I got'em."
"Air Atlantic... Air Atlantic... this is Navy fighter flight Vigilantes call sign "Strat" what is your status."
"Navy fighter... Damn it is good to hear you boys, I got six twin rudder fighters out here, trying to force me down, they say we are a carrying Political Undesirables on board..."this was said with some sarcasm by the pilot of the Air Atlantic flight." I have no idea what they are talking about, I have women and children on board the majority are Anthros with some Humans, they have fired guns across our nose, but nothing else except for some very close flying."
"Roger that Air Atlantic, be advised I am ten miles that is one-zero miles from your present position, I will be there in two minutes."
"Two minutes is confirmed, I show you on my scope now Navy fighter."
"ATTENTION... NAVY FIGHTER..." came a voice that cut across the radio waves.
"Hmmm, me thinks we are about to hear from the other side, care to make a wager on that "Tom"..."
"Not in this life time."
"This is Navy Fighter... to whom do I have the honor of speaking with..."
"I am Colonel Sergio Ivanovich of the European Navy Fighter corps, Navy fighter this matter does not concern you. Your are advised to leave the area at once."
Strat listened to the unit commander of the hostile flight,
"Tom... are you tracking these guys."
"Ya, I am Strat, two of them are heading our direction on an intercept course, this could get ugly."
" I concur, raise the carrier again advise them we made need back up."
"Colonel, this is Navy flight, Sir with all due respect that is a negative, you are in pursuit of a plane carrying refugees and that plane is over international waters. You Sir and your planes are advised to disengage and return home."
"Yankee Base... This Vigilantes three..."Strat could hear his RIO raising the carrier...
"Yankee Base... Situation is as follows six EU fighters have engaged, and fired upon a refugee plane, we have had radio contact with the flight commander and have been ordered away from area. Please be advised we have replied as it is a refugee flight and over international water and air space for the EU flight to back down, at this time we have two, say again two inbound bogies to our position. We request back up..."
Tom had just finished that message, when two fighters came screaming down at them from ahead...
The two fighters came blowing past them on the left and right, twin rudder configuration, flat body with swept wings and looking mean. As they broke to the left and right...
"Shit you see them, Strat, they where loaded, and it was not training rounds either."
"Ya, I saw them, four missiles and at least two extra fuel stores."
"Attention Navy fighter... You are still approaching. Once again I order you to stand down and return to your Carrier. Navy fighter if you don't comply I will assume your intentions are hostile and deal with them accordingly."
"Colonel, this is Navy Flight... I regret to inform you that are not possible that refugee plane is over international airspace and is not subject to you and neither Sir is I. Now in the name of International law, you are ordered to stand down and return to your base."
"Tom how is that back up coming, this is not looking good." Asked Strat as he maneuvered to keep the two Migs off their backs, "Hang on, Boss... I got the Skipper."
"Vigilantes Three... This is Vigilantes Flight... What is your status? Son."
"Skipper we are presently engaged with two, I say again two Fulcrums, and they did not ask to dance with us."
"Copy that Vigilantes Three, we show you about six miles ahead. I want you to continue on to the airliner, Vigilantes One and I will play with your playmates." Came the soft spoken but commanding presence of Captain Jonathan M. Talbot.
"Hey Strat... think they heard us."
" I hope not Tom."
It took about another thirty seconds until Strat noticed his skipper and wingman come up.
"Tally-Ho, Skipper, I see you at my nine o'clock. Go get 'em boss."
"Attention Hostile Aircraft... This is Vigilantes Lead, You are to cease and desist your pursuit of Navy Fighter Immediately if you do not, I will consider your actions hostile and act accordingly, and you have ten seconds to comply. And Gentlemen, if you think I am bluffing I suggest you check your threat receivers as I do have missile locks on you."
Strat did not wait to hear what the EU thinking, as he kicked in the burner to the airliner. Sending clouds scuttling past him as his craft speed by them at near Mach velocities as he speed to the stricken jetliner and its helpless crew and passengers.
"Air Atlantic One-Zero-Three, I am now three minutes from your position, recommend you come to course one-five-eight to Keflavik, Iceland."
"Commander EU flight, this is Navy fighter once again you are ordered to disengage to and return to your base of operation, do you comply..."
The silence that followed was deafening, he came upon the airliner as it started to make its course correction, and he noticed the four remaining Migs as they flew along side it. Then the far right fighters broke formation, to start a looping course that would bring them running a recipical bearing to the liner as they lined up for an apparent shot.
"Air Atlantic... Break Right up... Now! "As the pair of hostile fighters strafed the liner. He saw the tracer rounds go streaking through the late afternoon sky, as several penetrated the liners hull...Strat watched as the liner started to head to the ground as air pressure leaked out of the main cabin. The cockpit crew fighting for control of the big jet, as they attempted to recover, from the rounds that penetrated the hull.
"Yankee base... Yankee base... This is Vigilantes three... Air Atlantic has been fired upon, request permission to engage threat."
"Vigilantes three and Vigilantes Lead... Yankee base... You are cleared to Engage enemy aircraft, I say again your are Weapons Free..."
"Tom get me a solution on those bozos."
"One bozo solution coming up... "
Strat pulled his fighter around in an arcing loop as he proceeded to drop in behind the enemy fighters. He heard his targeting computer as it went through the motions, as he lined up the shot. Strat selected through and soon had a "sidewinder" missile selected.
"Got Tone... Fox one," he cried as he released the first missile. The heat seeker leaped from the rail, and ranged in on the European fighter craft blotting it from the sky. He then focused on his second target, as his eyes checked over his counsel, his eyes fell on the picture of his fiancé, "I hope to make it home to Ya babe." He thought.
He then got back to work, as he peripherally noted the explosion of the first enemy craft. "Tom, where are the other two?" as he lined up his craft for the second shot, this one would have to be a "Sparrow" he decided due to range.
Strat lined up on the other fighter, and released the radar seeker "Fox two"
"Strat they are following the liner, down, I think they mean to finish the job."
"Vigilantes Lead, this is three what is your status, over..."
"Vigilantes three... this is lead we are enroute, two minutes out. One of these guys gave us some issues."
"Shit" cussed Strat... as he banked his craft over and started to drop it down, he closed the distance rapidly to the two remaining fighters. He closed rapidly on the remaining planes, and triggered his fighters M-61A1 Gatling gun, burning through one fighter possible damaging it, As he pulled up and over the stricken jet liner.
"Strat, the other guy is not breaking off, it looks like he is going for a missile shot on the liner."
Strat, brought his plane around, as the European fighter launched its missile, An AA-11 (Archer) a serious threat to a fighter craft, to a jumbo jet liner it was overkill. Strat pushed the throttle of his F-14, and felt it jumped with the additional thrust as he maneuvered it between the Jet liner and missile, in the hopes of pulling the missile away from the liner.
"Strat, what are you thinking of doing?" he heard his RIO ask.
"We need to draw that missile away from the liner, or else they are toast."
"Oh, Okay, just making sure you are not trying to get us killed."
As the plane rocketed forward, passing under the Jet liner left wing, he pulled up just passed the tail section, giving the missile a much bigger target to paint.
Vigilantes flight came up on the scene as they both watched the F-14 reef a tight turn in an attempt to pull the missile away from the liner, instead what they watched was the missile explode shredding Vigilantes three to pieces.
Captain Talbot triggered his weapons array and watched as an AIM-54C sped away to impact with the enemy fighter.
"Air Atlantic flight one-zero-three... this is Navy flight." Captain Talbot said his voice thick with emotion. "What is you condition and flight status? Over."
"Navy Flight... we are alive and flying sir, thank you, if you get a chance thank that pilot of yours for the assist."
"Air Atlantic. Be advise he took a missile meant for you." The pause on the other end was hard.
"Roger that, Navy Flight, Our condolences on your loss, we are bound for Keflavik airbase, can you escort."
"Affirm Air Atlantic Flight, proceed on course and speed."
Captain Talbot soon pulled into the neighborhood of the two pilots. He drove up to the home of Lt Micahel Kaufman; he noted a small crowd of people out from some media types who had elevated both furs to the status of heroes and martyrs of the European oppression of Anthros everywhere. Of course the European Union was attempting to down play the incident, but the World Media was having nothing doing, since someone had leaked the footage from the air fight it self, and also one of the passengers a German national had a video camera on board and had filmed the whole thing. That individual was outraged that his fellow fellow citizens would behave in such a fashion. He was quoted as saying "It is one thing to live with them, however to destroy them is another thing entirely." He noted that Thomas family was here also, by the car, in the driveway. Captain Talbot noted that the flowerbed was going to need work with all the trampling that had been done; also, the home would need to be looked after. He made a mental note to ask the boys and girls of his fighter squadron when he got back for volunteers. He made his way to the door, where he was meet by Micahel's father a tall man.
"Mr. Kaufman, I am Captain Talbot, I was your son's Commanding Officer. May I come in Sir."
Mr. Kaufman stood there, then asked quietly, "How did my son die Sir?"
"He died well Sir, He and his RIO attempted to draw a missile off of the stricken jet liner, instead it hit their plane, they died instantly."
"How do you know this Captain?" Mr. Kaufman asked as he closed the door, after stepping out on the porch.
" I was in command of the flight that was there back up, Sir, I watched it with my own two eyes, I also triggered the missile that blew the Son of bitch out of the sky who fired on the liner and our two boys." Said Jonathan with more heat then he intended, for the incident still gave him nightmares, as if he could have gotten there sooner.
"Captain, thank you. I believe you are here to see the Girls, though, are you not."
"Yes sir I Am." He waited until Mr. Kaufman open the door, and then walked in removing his hat, in the foyer. Both men had loved ones who had all been together at squadron picnics and parties. He noticed Tom's wife first, with a little one clinging to her chest, then he noted Micahel fiancé. He walked into the home, "Cynthia, Maria... I am so sorry."