Airwolf Rule The World

“We got blips, at least ten coming this way.” Dominic burst through the double doors and stopped in his tracks. Carsten fell into Dominic as he too looked at the devastation which was presented to them both.



Hawke stood up. “There is no way these bastards are getting Airwolf.” Hawke said. “Not after what they have done.” Hawke turned to Kristien and held out his hand to her. Kristien placed her hand into his and he helped her up. “I want you to go home.” Hawke told her again. “Carsten you take her home.”



“You can’t take ten on.” Kristien told him as she made her way towards the double doors.



Hawke was already running towards Airwolf, Dominic was hurrying also.



Kristien and Carsten headed for the Phoenix.



Hawke put on his helmet and quickly settled in and pressed TURB START ONE.



“Kristie please will you go home.” Hawke pleaded with her over the radio.



Kristien had already got herself into the Phoenix and Hawke could easily feel all the engines from the Phoenix start to rock Airwolf as already the Phoenix was at full power in a fraction of the time it took Airwolf to get up to speed.



“After I have sorted some of these out.” Kristien replied as she took off vertically.



Hawke pressed TURB START TWO.



Airwolf’s screen sprang into action. “Oh Mother pray for me.” Dominic said as he looked at what was coming towards him. “Ten MIG 25’s all with sidewinders, I would say we are in trouble.” Dominic turned to the EDCC where more sounds could be heard. “We got five more coming from the north also.”



Hawke turned round to the EDCC.



“Kristie can you keep them busy whilst we take off?” Hawke checked all the instruments on Airwolf, they were still thirty seconds from take off.



“Typical, you were sending me home a minute ago.” Kristien replied. “Hurry up and get your arse up here, I am not playing target practise for fifteen bloody flyboys.”



Hawke pulled up the collective and brought Airwolf up. He pressed the turbos and Airwolf surged forwards, giving chase to the Phoenix.



“You know that testing you wanted, well here it is.” Hawke spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.



“Oh you are just so funny.” Kristien replied. “In fact bloody hilarious.”



The Phoenix found all ten MIGs in formation heading towards her. Kristien checked her screens and saw Airwolf coming behind her. Carsten looked at his dials in front of him and was already worried that Kristien was taking on ten MIGs.



“Ok boys, let’s see how good you really are.” Kristien spoke more to herself and she pushed the throttle forwards and the Machmeter increased to MACH 4 and she headed forwards to the formation of MIGs.



“Oh shit you are not playing chicken are you?” Carsten asked anxiously, watching the screen in the co pilots seat, and he looked up and saw that he could actually see the planes coming towards the Phoenix. “Oh fuck you are!” Carsten started to feel his stomach churn and he placed his hands over his visor.



Kristien ignored the pleas from Carsten and pushed the throttle forward. The Phoenix engines roared louder and ate up the air and the Machmeter read 5.5. Kristien formed a small smile and she continued her flight path right through the centre of the formation. Just before she took the formation on she guided the Phoenix and slammed it on to its port side and cut through the formation and with split second timing she pushed the throttle forward and Mach 6.5 was reached, the wash and the sonic wave created sent four of the MIGs as they violently banked to avoid the Phoenix went in to flat spins, hurtling towards the earth.



The Phoenix flew higher and Kristien pulled back, still at MACH 6.5 and did a one eighty giving chase to the six remaining MIGS who were now heading towards Airwolf. Kristien had inverted the Phoenix and then righted the plane the right way up.



Carsten did not feel well.



The Phoenix’s weapons came online and at the same time Kristien sent her down into a nose dive. The MACH meter racing forward reading MACH 7 and four missiles released and surged forward towards their targets, taking out 4 MIGS just as Airwolf came into view.



“Now that’s just being greedy.” Hawke told Kristien over the radio.



“I’ve left you two what more do you want!” Kristien replied. “Where are those other 5?”



Dominic checked the screen on the EDCC. “Can’t find them honey.”



“I’ll have a good look around.” Kristien pulled up the Phoenix to a high level recon.



Hawke gave chase in Airwolf to one of the MIGS and pressed his visor down. The MIG pilot kept swerving from side to side, trying to avoid a missile lock. Airwolf continued its chase. Hawke patiently counted off the seconds and released a sidewinder.



The EDCC sprang into life with two missiles coming for Airwolf. “We got company.” Dominic replied. “Popping two sunbursts.”



From the rearward two sunbursts deployed, striking into bright intense light and heat, to be the decoy for the incoming missiles.



As the sidewinder in front blew up the MIG, Hawke pulled Airwolf up into a vertical climb to avoid the explosion from the MIG. Airwolf did a hammerhead stall and came back to the on coming sidewinders.



“Two miles.” Dominic read off from the EDCC. “Only one has taken the sunbursts.”



Hawke took aim for the last sidewinder and released a missile to meet the on coming one. “This is gonna be close.” Hawke said as he pulled Airwolf up into a power climb and pressed the turbos.



Below both missiles met and exploded, causing a massive shockwave, tossing Airwolf around like a rag doll. Hawke wrestled for control of Airwolf. The shockwave taking out one of Airwolf’s engines. At the EDCC various alarms sounded and lights flashed.



“We’ve got a compression stall on the starboard engine.” Dominic read off. “Trying to reignite.” Dominic pressed several buttons on the consoles, trying to regain control of the engines for Hawke. Nothing seemed to be obeying Dominic’s frantic efforts of trying to regain control of the situation.



Hawke held on to Airwolf, trying to keep her on course, but the compression stall was taking Airwolf down, the lack of thermals helping none either. More alarms sounded as blips appeared on the screen. “Oh and I think we have found the other five MIGS.” Dominic replied. “Or rather I think they have found us.”



“Sit tight.” Kristien replied.



From nowhere, the Phoenix came at a startling speed of MACH 7 under Airwolf, the sonic wave throwing Airwolf up at least two hundred feet into the air. Airwolf’s starboard engine finally reignited on the dramatic elevator ride given by the Phoenix. Hawke engaged the turbos and changed heading towards the on coming MIGS.



“Woah!” Dominic said as he held onto his lunch. “Ok two of the MIGs are arming.”



“Hellfires Dom.” Hawke requested.



“You got them.” Dominic selected the buttons.



Hawke manoeuvred Airwolf towards the MIGs, trying to match their on coming course. He released one Hellfire to one of the MIGs and pulled Airwolf around to the port and the ADF pod moved ninety degree’s and Hawke released another Hellfire for the other MIG. He went after the other three MIGs without looking if the Hellfires hit their targets.



The three other MIGs made a direct course for Airwolf, totally ignoring the vertical path that the Phoenix had just been on. The middle MIG trying to target lock as the two other MIGs kept on an escort waiting for the Phoenix to engage them.



Hawke pressed the turbo’s and Airwolf surged forwards. Airwolf moved dramatically from side to side, just keeping out of the MIGs missile lock. Dominic watched Hawke’s mastery at the controls of Airwolf. Hawke continued to evade the ensuing MIGs.



Suddenly Airwolf’s EDCC lit up and alarms sounded as one of the escort MIGs managed a target lock and a sidewinder was on Airwolf’s tail. There was no time for any countermeasures as the sidewinder hit the starboard turbo section of Airwolf. Airwolf veered violently to starboard as the turbo’s failed. The explosion sending Airwolf down through the atmosphere. Hawke held on to the controls, struggling to maintain any control. Hawke grimaced as the pain from his cracked ribs stabbed him in the centre of his brain, he felt like his head was going to spilt open. Hawke gritted his teeth and hauled with all his strength on the cyclic. Finally the damaged Airwolf responded to its pilot’s pleas to stay airborne, despite it nearly getting its new sudden death wish, as the altimeter read five hundred feet.



“She’s hit!” Dominic shouted as the cockpit started to fill with smoke. “She’s hit bad.” Dominic typed various things into the keyboard. “I think we have the starboard turbo damaged, checking for anything else.” Dominic pressed the OBOGS button and instantly the smoke filled cockpit was vented and fresh pure oxygen poured in.



Hawke checked his screen for the other MIGs to see if they had followed Airwolf on its downward spiral to earth. They had. Hawke dare not breathe, his ribs stabbing him with their pain of being made to work beyond their current broken state.



“We got Turbo’s at all?” Hawke grunted at Dominic, clearly frustrated with the battle and the pain that he was in.



“Limited String, they are not a hundred percent and they may fail.” Dominic protested to deaf ears as Hawke pressed the turbo button and Airwolf jolted forward, forcing Hawke uncomfortably into the pilot’s seat. Hawke screwed up his eyes, the pain burning, searing into him.



Hawke struggled for control as Airwolf’s turbo’s kept being out of balance, keeping her straight took all of his strength, his draining strength. The stabbing pain that he was in from his ribs was taking its toll. The deep throbbing from inside of his head where the bruising on the inside of his skull from the concussion was pounding. As Hawke concentrated more on trying to keep control, his breathing became more and more laboured



The three MIGs continued their relentless chase of their prey, wearing it down, taking it piece by piece. Airwolf limped forward. Hawke struggled to hold her. His breathing becoming more laboured as he wrestled for control. Airwolf could barely keep out of the target lock’s which were now coming from all three MIGs. Hawke’s thumb slipped from the turbo button and Airwolf slowed dramatically, making them a sitting duck.



“String?” Dominic called out to Hawke, his finger hovering over the AFT Flight command control button, where he could take control of Airwolf in an emergency situation.



Another alarm sounded in Airwolf on the personnel biological monitors console . Hawke’s visor snapped shut and oxygen was forced into his helmet. Dominic could see that Hawke was struggling to remain conscious. Oxygen was forced into Hawke’s aching lungs.



Just as Dominic was about to take control of Airwolf, the Phoenix came from nowhere taking on all three MIGs, as the Phoenix positioned itself between Airwolf and the on coming MIGs the MIG’s each sent two sidewinders towards to Phoenix. Normally Kristien would have just taken the Phoenix to around MACH 5 to outrun the missiles but with Airwolf struggling Kristien knew she had to stay and fight and demonstrate what the Phoenix could do.



“String, what the fuck are you doing, this is no time to be playing target practise.” Kristien said deadpan over the radio.



Hawke heard Kristien’s voice from the darkness of the realms of unconsciousness. “Kristie?” Hawke whispered, was he hearing things? Hawke coughed as he took in more air, the pure oxygen being forced into his lungs, as he took in more air he became more lucid and started to remember where he was.



As Hawke’s eyes focused, he watched in front of him as the Phoenix’s laser took out all six sidewinders making a pretty impressive light show. On seeing that light show, all three MIG’s changed their minds about Airwolf and went after the Phoenix, a better prize. On dangling that bait, Kristien took them away from Airwolf. As Hawke came to he could see various explosions in the distance as the Phoenix made easy work of the three MIGS.



“I’ve repaired the turbo’s, she’s limping but she’s a little better balanced.” Dominic told Hawke.



“Thanks Dom.” Hawke’s voice was dry and raspy.



The radar screen continued to blip as a missile came from nowhere and began closing in on Airwolf. Hawke’s eyes narrowed as he squinted at the screen.



“We have a rocket on our tail, five miles and closing.” Dominic told Hawke. “I have suppressors on, jamming.”



Hawke pressed the turbo’s and Airwolf launched forward, racing forward. Hawke kept glancing at the screen. The missile was four miles and still closing. Hawke looked ahead, scanning the horizon.



“WE can’t shake this missile.” Dominic looked at the EDCC screen, having tried all the counter measures, it was now up to the skill of the pilot to evade the missile. Hawke guided Airwolf from side to side, in a futile attempt to shake the missile, which continued in hot pursuit of its fleeing target. Hawke checked his monitor on the console and could see that the missile was still gaining. He continued pressing the turbo’s harder, hoping he could get the last ounce of thrust from the turbines. “String those turbo’s aren’t gonna hold.”



Hawke’s brow began to sweat. “They are gonna have to.” Hawke’s voice had a small crack in it.



His eyes scanned the oncoming horizon for any kind of structure both natural and man made that he could try to duck behind to evade the missile. It was totally flat although ahead of him was something coming.



More sweat beads congregated on his brow, forming a droplet.



He strained his eyes to see what was coming. His eyes frantically glanced at the screen, nothing was there, his eyes looked up again, what ever was coming, it was fast, blurry fast.



The missile behind was catching up, constantly eating up the air, quicker than Hawke could evade with Airwolf limping on its turbo’s.



In a spilt second he knew what he had to do.



The blur came forwards at a lightning speed as Hawke realised what was coming, he readied Airwolf, nose up and pushed Airwolf up into a dramatic vertical climb, the turbo’s barely working with their new fight to be vertical.



The Phoenix came exactly on to the flight path that Airwolf was once on. Kristien selected a missile and released it towards the oncoming missile. With less than fifty feet to go, the phoenix also took on a dramatic vertical climb, allowing both missiles to meet below, sending a huge explosion up in to the sky. The edge of the shockwave just pushing Airwolf’s tail rotor. The phoenix already out of harms way.



Dominic watched on the EDCC as the two missiles disintegrated. Although he could not see the Phoenix anywhere, he guessed what was happening. “Madre doi” Dominic muttered. “That was close.”



Hawke rubbed his brow to remove the droplet of sweat. “Yeah, tell me about it.” Hawke sighed heavily, full of relief.



“You took your sweet time.” Hawke replied relieved that Kristien had made it back just in the nick of time.



“Sweet time? Why you cheeky bugger!” Kristien replied. “Have you ever tried to stop at MACH 7 before? I simply just can’t reverse the bloody engines you know.” Kristien continued to explain. “And I nearly ran out of bloody sky to boot, and I bet you your passenger isn’t recycling his dinner either.”



The silence between Airwolf and the Phoenix was noticeable until both Dominic and Hawke fell about laughing, full of relief and the thought of Carsten yet again being air sick.



“Oh yeah, laugh it up boys, laugh it up.” Kristien answered.



“So you want us to escort you back seeing’s as your protection detail is otherwise engaged.” Hawke joked looking across at the Phoenix.



“Oh you are just a bloody comedian today now aren’t you!” Kristien replied. “You’re the one limping along there, if I had a tow rope I would pull you along.”



“It’s nothing you can’t fix.” Hawke smiled and gave small salute of thanks to her.