The Rainbow wing
High in the sky, a squadron of 15 interceptors fly towards an enemy assault. Equipped with three cannons, 4 machine guns, two high power engines and a dual machine gun rear gunner, they are reliable and equipped to deal with a technologically more advanced threat. Amongst them, three planes differentiate themselves, the Rainbow wing, a fresh crew out of training commanding a brand new model of interceptor.
After a few minutes of flight the enemy crafts appeared in front of them.
“The floating boxes are in sight” The rainbow wing exclaimed over the radio.
“Keep formation until we have a better view of their units.” The squadron leader ordered.
After a few moments the enemy formation could be seen more clearly. Five transports, escorted by two combat crafts. They were flying almost perpendicular to the squadron.
“How about we go give them an early welcome?” Exclaimed the Rainbow wing on the radio, before pushing the throttle of their dual engine aircraft to the maximum, their brand new and revised engines sending them like bullets to their targets.
“Those damn fools” The squadron leader exclaimed “Everyone to max power, we need to catch up before they get killed”
The Rainbow wing quickly got in range of their targets. The kovalinkts had acknowledged over the centuries that although the raiders were from outer space, their equipment was ill-suited for atmospheric battle. They seemed to rely on their technological advantages instead of actual, good strategies and equipment.
The three interceptors focused their fire on the closest combat craft. The first two combined their fire and barely destroyed the energy shield, as they avoided collision, their last wingman shredded its armor with its five auto-cannons, sending the raider’s craft barrelling down in a ball of fire.
“By the machine gods, those are effective!” Exclaimed Dash.
“We got it in just one pass of the wing? The machine spirit is on our side, sisters!” Added Rush.
“Those things are gonna change the tide of this war!” Celebrated Boost with her battle sisters on the radio.
Their celebration was short lived however as the transports started firing at them and the second combat vehicle turned on itself to face them.
The wing flew away from the formation as their planes were not meant for tight maneuvers. As they took distance to turn, the remaining escort shot at them.
“SEEKERS, 4 O’CLOCK” Screamed Duty, Dash’s gunner.
Following her training, she aligned her plane with the projectiles and stabilized herself to give the best shot to her gunner.
As the aircraft stabilized, Duty opened fire with her quadruple turret-mounted machine guns sending a cloud of bullets flying, quickly dispatching the seekers.
Receiving the all clear, Dash finished her turn-around. Putting the enemy craft in her sights, she waited for her allies to finish its shield and veer off, as soon as they did, she opened fire, the opposing craft firing back. The plasma bolts melting parts of the fuselage, one of the shots hitting the cockpit and melting its way along its length sending molten slag in the cockpit, the chitin feathers of the crew protecting them from burns.
In the few seconds that felt like hours exchanging fire, the shells of Dash’s cannons finally pierced the pirate’s armor and blew it out of the sky.
Suddenly the radio powered on with the voice of the squadron commander “Rainbow wing, what is your status?”
“We took some damage, but we fly well.” Replied Dash. “Unfortunately, we are getting low on ammo. We might need to return to base.”
“Roger that Rainbow wing, since you took care of the enemy escort we should be able to destroy the rest of the convoy without too much problem.” The squadron commander acknowledged. “Go back to base and await further orders.”
“Orders received, Rainbow wing returning to base for resupply and repair. May the machine gods be with you.” On this, the Rainbow wing took the direction of the airbase.
“May the machine gods be with you on your way home, Rainbow wing” The commander said before assaulting the convoy with the rest of the squadron.
After their return, the engineers analysed their report and the state of their planes. Their analysis revealed that while the new model could destroy the enemy craft with some ease, the lack of ammunition gave them too little combat time to adopt them as a main interceptor. The decision was made to put two wings of the advanced interceptor in each interception squadron, making each of them, six interceptors MK V and nine MK IV.
