Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 28: Case Yellow (Day 7 – Killing Machine)

Putting the thrust-vectoring nozzles of his AV-1 Harrier downward, Toyjet brings his plane down for a gentle touch-down on the flight deck of the RMS Bayern, the name-giver of her class of Battler Carrier. Once the nozzles cool off, a deck tractor hooks up with the Harrier before re-spotting the jump jet to the correct orientation. Then, the Seabees start surrounding the Harrier to perform a pre-flight check. Toyjet helps the Seabees by checking his avionic inside the cockpit. When the good to reload and refuel is given, the Seabees pull weapon carts and refueling nozzle from behind the Bayern's island before attaching them to Toyjet's Harrier. While the Seabees are working to feed his jump jet, Toyjet takes the chance to survey the flight deck.

Much like his plane, the rest of Knight Squadron has just touched down for check-ups and refits. Given the circumstances, Toyjet can see that the Seabees are outfitting the entire squad with anti-air missiles once more. Knight Squadron completed their part in the first interception phase splendidly. Their return to the battle carrier, alongside other Squadrons, has cleared the sky for the second phase to come in full effect. Though the second phase is upheld by the naval warships, it doesn't mean that the Naval Aviation pilots can rest on their laurels. Being rearmed and refueled upon touchdown means that the pilots are still placed under an alert status, pending another sortie.

While the Seabees are working on his aircraft, Toyjet checks his MFDs to see the status of his aircraft. Stuff is mostly green across the board, and so is fuel. However, the Seabees are still loading more 30 mm shells and installing additional Iris missiles, which will take some hot minutes. Toyjet watches as the ammunition counter of his Harrier is filling up by the seconds, though his musing is interrupted by the sudden sound of naval guns firing. Moving his gaze above his instrument and beyond his aircraft, Toyjet sees a Munchen-class CLG, the Dortmund, opening up a flak salvo with her 150 mm guns. Right after firing all of her rifled cannons, the cruiser then unleashed a couple of surface-to-air missiles from her compliment of Gepard CIWS. The anti-air bubble of a Munchen is deadly, and Toyjet honestly pities the Erusean airmen for coming into not one but an overlapping of such bubbles. Even when using the best plane in the entire world, Toyjet can't even imagine how to tackle a singular Munchen CLG.

Looking up and following the trails left behind by the Dortmund's munitions, Toyjet silently appreciates the Reich's finest killing machines. However, the pilot's attention is attracted to a dark shape falling beneath the cloud, seemingly uncontrollable.

"The hell...?"

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As the B-17 plunges toward the rolling waves, Nybeck comes to. The lower altitude has more oxygen. He immediately hauls on the controls, fighting the plane, the gravity, Death... With all his strength. It's a Herculean effort, akin to Nybeck trying to pull on an entire city's worth of steel. The control yoke, the rudder pedals, these things feel like they're filled with lead. A stray part of Nybeck's brain thinks that maybe the hydraulics are mostly scrapped for the controls to act like this. However, his mind is more occupied with the altimeter showing an alarming decrease in altitude, the only thing keeping them from earning a watery grave.

1200 meters.

1000 meters.

800 meters.

600 meters.

By the time Nybeck levels out Ye Olde Pub, his skin is deadly pale and his arms are taunted like rebars. The B-17, barely pulling up right before splashing the open sea, skims above the waves. The plane is low enough to disturb the water. It's at this point that Nybeck makes the belated realization that he has just flown a bit too close to the sun in a metaphorical manner. The reason for this particular comparison is that Nybeck is somehow flying opposite yet parallel to a group of vessels that are distinctively not Erusean, owing to their tumblehome wave-piercing hulls. When Nybeck sees the vessels in that flotilla opening up with their guns, he hastily wakes his semi-conscious Co-pilot before they direct the Pub back to Erusea altogether. Nybeck doesn't need to be a genius to know that the Pub has severely overstayed their welcome. However, the Pilot of the B-17 hasn't realize that the Belka warships aren't even aiming at their general direction.

Apparently, the Pub is too pitiful for the Belkans to even waste their expensive smart shells.

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After Toyjet's urging, the Seabees hastily clear his Harrier for an immediate take-off. Though not fully armed with missiles, the jump jet has enough of everything else to warrant a go for an emergency interception of a stray enemy bomber. Unfortunately, the rest of Toyjet's Squadron will have to sit on the sideline for this, owing to their planes not being fueled up just yet.

As Toyjet's Harrier lifts off vertically from the deck of RMS Bayern, the lady in charge of the Stratostation, where he briefly docked, jumps into his communication channel.

"Yahallo~!" Comes the cheery voice of Okonkwo. "I was suddenly notified of a sudden raindrop of a B-17, and that good ol' Sir Toyjet is kicking things into gear. Then, I was reminded that you, good sir, are a mere stone's throw away from earning that Knight's Cross, thus qualifying you as a true Knight, befitting of your namesake. Now that there's an enemy bomber scurrying away, perhaps it's a chance for you to earn that mark at last?"

Toyjet replies while pushing a lever and changing his Harrier into horizontal flight. "That remains to be seen..."

There's something odd about that bomber, however. Perhaps it's due to how it came so close to the sea before pulling up.

Okonkwo hums before pinging Toyjet of the B-17's vector and altitude. "The choice is yours..." The Stratostation's operator says cryptically. "The rest of Knight Squadron will join you when they're done with R&R."

"Thank you." Toyjet replies curtly before turning the Harrier's thrust to the max, chasing after the runaway bomber.

Though the Harrier ain't the fastest aircraft in Belkan's arsenal, it's more than capable of catching up with a B-17 hanging onto hopes and dreams. Soon enough, Toyjet's Harrier achieves a positive weapon lock on the B-17, though the pilot opts to not unlock the safety on his four Iris missiles. From what Toyjet's HUD is telling him, the B-17 is flying precariously slow and low, a sign that further fuels his suspicion that the bomber is badly damaged. To test his theory, Toyjet flies closer and into the visual range with the rumbling B-17. He keeps his fingers on the trigger and the B-17's rear in his sight, though he does not shoot. Something stops him. The lack of fire from the other plane makes him curious, and it is then that he truly spots the damage the enemy plane has taken.

It's no wonder that they can't seem to retaliate. The crew of the B-17 has much worse things to worry about.

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Barely hauling at 220 km/h, Nybeck and his Co-pilot fight the Pub every single second to keep the bomber flying.

The crew previously discussed the possibility of bailing out of the aircraft but realized their Navigator could not make a safe landing with his injury. Especially not when there's nothing but water below them. Unwilling to leave him behind in the plane, they flew on.

It will be a miracle for the Pub's crew if they can reach Erusea in their current state. However, the situation grows more complicated when they realize that a Belkan aircraft is coming right at them. They panic, yet belatedly realize that nearly all of their defensive guns are inoperable due to freezing or battle damage. Nybeck's stunned when he knows that only the dorsal turret is still worth a damn. Yet, he is further surprised when the Belkan warbird still hasn't opened fire on the crippled Pub.

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Toyjet flies closer and pulls up alongside, stunned by the condition of the plane. Feathered engines, banged-up elevators, shredded rudder, not to mention weapon stations or lack thereof... The only gun not destroyed is the turret above, but it can’t depress its guns low enough to harm Toyjet.

How in the Hell is this b-17 still flying?

Through openings torn in the damaged bomber's airframe by flaks and strays, Toyjet can see the injured and incapacitated crew. Toyjet knows that a few shots of his 30 mm are enough to bring this B-17 down but there is little glory in shooting down a bunch of helpless men. There's a code of conduct, an unwritten rule circulated among the pilots of the Reich. It's a saying in all honesty that goes along the lines of:

'If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself.'

To Toyjet, these Eruseans look as if they're hanging for dear life onto their parachutes, and he can't bring himself to shoot them down. It would be a gross betrayal of the Reich's integrity, his personal values, and the codes of honor of Knight Squadron. So, Toyjet pulls up right by the B-17's cockpit, seeing eye-to-eye with the Pilot and Co-pilot of the Flying Fortress. Both sides look at each other for a few tense moments before Toyjet starts making gestures. Since the jammers are still blasting hard for operational security, Toyjet can't just ask the AWACS or Okonkwo to shut it down. Making hand gestures are the only way for him to communicate with the B-17 right now.

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Toyjet first waves at Nybeck before pointing down. It may sound stupid, but if Nybeck's bomber can gently land on the ocean, Toyjet will mark the coordinate and call in a Search and Rescue flight from the Bayern for these Eruseans. Toyjet is not really sure whether Nybeck can understand his gestures or not, but the latter does shake his head before pointing in the direction of Erusea. To this, Toyjet makes a sweeping gesture to the rest of Ye Olde Pub. This motion conveys everything Toyjet wanted to say, the B-17 may not make it.

Once again, Toyjet tries to convince Nybeck and his crew to land, though this time the Belkan pilot points to Sweden. Ironically, the nearest Sweden airport has a shorter flight time than the RAF airbase which the Pub is flying to. Sweden is neutral, so Nybeck and his crew can still receive medical treatment, albeit interned for the remainder of this war. However, Nybeck and their crew still shake their heads. At this point, Toyjet knows that they are dead men, their bomber can still be a target on the scope unless he helps them. The Belkan pilot slows down behind the B-17 before taking up position near Nybeck's plane and in close formation on the bomber's port side wing. From this point onward, Toyjet stays near Nybeck's Flying Fortress as they fly nearer to the Erusean coast. The experienced Belkan operators and precise instruments will easily recognize one of their own flying so close to an enemy bomber. Under the astonished eyes of the Erusean, Toyjet maintains strict professionalism and skill in maintaining a cohesive formation with the crippled B-17.

As Toyjet and Nybeck fly together on the scope of Belkan radar, not a single weapon system dares to open fire on the B-17 despite being capable of attaining a weapon lock. When Ye Olde Pub passes the danger zone not anymore battered than already is, Toyjet salutes Nybeck's crew before departing. Only then does Nybeck understand what has transpired in its entirety.

After a treacherous flight and a shoddy attempt at gaining some altitude before a final approach, Ye Old Pub makes it back to Erusea, barely, and it is a small miracle that it manages a landing without fire and brimstone. The commanding officer is about to award them medals for their service, but High Command ultimately gets wind of the story and is furious. No one can know. The mission never happened. Everything is swept under the rug.

Ironically enough, the RAF's censorship serves to further dampen the morale of the survivors from that botched bombing mission across the Channel. You can't just discard the fact that your enemy treats you honorably in your darkest hours. Pilots are of a respectable breed and to vilify virtuous acts on the battlefield is truly deplorable.

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"Heh..." Okonkwo hums playfully. "To think you would make such a call. Should I say that it's as expected of you, Knight Leader?"

Toyjet sighs but does reply stalwartly. "We are warned not to hunt down runners for fear of reprisals from the public."

"If possible." Okonkwo cuts in immediately. "There are many ways you can interpret that reminder, Knight 1. What you were doing, though admirable, will no doubt fall under the scrutinizing eyes of ONI. It was damn close to being called fraternizing with your enemy."

"Yet, it's also the correct thing to do. There has to be a sense behind all the fighting and the duties we enact for our countrymen. Without it, we're no different than mere killing machine." Toyjet replies with conviction.

Okonkwo falls silent for a bit before laughing refreshingly. "And that's why I will be speaking for your case. Losing your chance at the Knight's Cross may not be the end of it, but I think you will gain more in the future for not being a kill-hound."

Toyjet can feel Okonkwo shrugging on the other end of the comms link. "At least for tonight, you can rest with an easy heart, knowing you did the right thing."