The heat between the United States and the CIS has turned up another notch. After the skirmish over the Ukrainian coastline yesterday, the USS Eisenhower and its escorts have backed off from the coast a little, heading south.
Coming from the communications room, you step quickly towards the CO's office, a message from Maraklov in your hand. You find the CO speaking to his secretary outside the office. When he sees you, he smiles and dismisses the secretary, then leads you into his office. He narrows his eyes as you close his door behind you, but remains silent for five minutes while you speak.
When you have finished telling him about the Sevastopol incident, he takes the message you received from Maraklov and stares at it. Out of a drawer he produces a lighter, and runs the flame under a corner of the paper. As the paper blackens and curls he drops it into a wastebasket. "Comrade Major," he slowly says, his face impassive. "You, and Colonel Maraklov, have revealed to me information which Moscow did not intend for me to know. I am going to forget you ever mentioned this to me. I would suggest you both do the same. That is all."
You stand and salute before turning to leave. As your hand reaches the doorknob, the CO says quietly, "Thank you, Comrade." You nod, open the door and leave without a word.
Ten minutes later you are in the barracks skimming the MiG-29 maintenance orders when a general alert sounds. The base commander has ordered a continual air patrol, of at least one MiG-29 fighter over the base, and every working fighter on the ground on 10 minute alert.
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YOUR MISSION
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Your plane is designated Shadow-201.
You are scheduled to take off and relieve Shadow-202, the MiG-29 currently on patrol.
Objective: BARCAP - Protect the Odesa airbase from attack.
Rules of Engagement: Unidentified aircraft may be engaged if they approach the Ukrainian coastline. If they do not alter course after lock-on you may fire. Of course, if you or another Russian aircraft is fired upon you will return fire.
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ORDER OF BATTLE
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Force Size : 1
Your aircraft : MiG-29
Recommended weapons : AA-8 Aphid (6)
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THREAT DATA
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GROUND THREATS : Eisenhower Carrier Group
AIR OPPOSITION : possible American interceptors, attack aircraft, Ukrainian MiG-27s
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C.I.S. Frontal Aviation Fighters
Mission 4:
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
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You gently bring the MiG-29 down onto the runway. As you taxi to your aircraft shelter you open the canopy for a breath of fresh air... and smell smoke. You bring the fighter to a stop inside the hangar, quickly climbing out despite your exhaustion.
The base commander stops you at the hangar door. "Comrade, I have bad news. One of the attacking planes hit the hangar housing the Sukhoi-33."
"How bad is the damage?" you demand.
"An inconvenience, but manageable. Luckily the bomb fuse exploded the warhead on the hardened roof before it broke through, but still, the plane was showered with shrapnel. The crew are evaluating the damage further."
"Damn those Americans and their Ukrainian lapdogs! You were right not to underestimate them, commander."
The CO smiles. "At times like this, my friend, I would rather have been wrong."
You can't help but return the smile. "As always, you speak truly, commander. Please have the technicians check the avionics for shock damage as well."
"Certainly. But first, if you will excuse me, I have to go see about arranging more air defenses..."
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C.I.S. Frontal Aviation Fighters
Mission 4:
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
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MISSION FAILURE
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arrrgh.
Comrade, you have failed your duty.
The Americans coming from the south are the main threat: if they nail the runway, (a) the other MiGs can't take off to help, (b) you can't land! Engage them as they approach the coastline and if they don't break off the attack let 'em have it! Mopping up the Ukrainians should be a cinch.
If you can't hack it with the Aphids go ahead and load up with AA-11 Archers instead.
