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Would you read a large-ish, regularly expanded story about PDF/ Navy aviators on ammoriss?
Sounds interesting, I'd even like to collaborate 5 (45.5%)
Sure 5 (45.5%)
Probably not 1 (9.1%)
Total Votes: 11
My very own double eagle; My latest bit of fiction
Topic Started: 11 Aug 2009, 01:19 PM (328 Views)
Burnie
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Lieutenant
Well I know that I said I wasn't going to do much hobby for a while, but I suppose we can consider this just a minor bending of that rule... :P

To cut the long story short, I've begun working on a new story about aviators, both PDF and Navy, operating in the Ammoriss campaign. I've drawn a lot of inspiration from Double Eagle, and a few other works (mainly stuff by Derek Robinson, brilliant author), as well as trying to bring some "field research" into it from my recent aerobatics course.

I would take it on as a rolling project, posting a chapter per week, probably in a different thread either in the fluff section or in a project log of its own if mods would allow for it (it's already inspired me to plan a few conversions/kitbashes as well which could eventually justify the project side of it).

So at the moment I'd just like to see how many people would be keen on reading it to see if it's worthwhile, what do you all think?

Cheers,

B
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Synge
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Hmm, sounds interesting mate. The fluff that you have written so far for your drop troops has been pretty good. I would more than likely read it. I recon you give it a go and see what the response is :D
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☺highmarshaldave
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Urban Leg-End
I'd be up for that, mate. Would be a rather good read, I'd imagine.

Dave out.
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Penguin of Death
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Sounds good to me
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Burnie
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Ok, so I'd have at least 3 readers :D I'll whack a poll up top to make some of this a bit easier, and below is what I've done so far, hope you enjoy it!

Execution Alpha “A casual glance”
Habra Valley, Zone 5
Ammoriss Northern Warzone
Flight level 300 (30000 feet above mean sea level)

Against the deep, sapphire-blue of the skies above the Habra valley, four impossibly white lines were all that betrayed the presence of NH-ZXY, better known to the PDF aviators as “Peeping Tom”. The ERA-118 “Tornado” recon/bomber aircraft rode the jetstream southwards, it’s thin, rounded fuselage completely smooth but for the rear defensive turret, and a number of strakes and antennae protruding, giving away its nature. The high wings, fixed just rearwards from the centre of the fuselage, bounced slightly as small pockets of air hit them, jolting the four jet engines up with them. Two hardpoints on each wing could have carried ordnance, fuel tanks, or electronic warfare gear and, within the glass canopy dominating the forward fuselage, Flying Officer Zack Ragen knew he would be more comfortable with any of the three, as opposed to clean wings. He sighed, keeping the Tornado level with the stick while glancing at the briefing on his kneeboard.
“Just a casual glance, don’t want to look like we want a fight” He said aloud to himself, forgetting the throat-mike sending his every word over the intercom. A tinny voice in his ear answered back, that of Flight Sergeant Rolph Dutton, his tail-gunner and electronic warfare specialist.
“Don’t see why they didn’t send one of them new fancy recon jobs then sir. Much better suited to this sort of thing I’d say” Ragen loosened his harness a bit and leant around his seat to look back at Dutton, through the bomb-bay that, on this mission, was instead carrying an advanced set of pict-units. The big man was hunched over his auspex console, standing side-on to his gunnery console, trying to ignore the two lethal autocannons with which he was charged.
“Well the Sparrow hasn’t reached full production yet, they probably don’t want the southerners to even know they exist I’d bet” Ragen answered, turning back to his cockpit and starting to tighten his straps again, although he stopped for a moment to wiggle his hands, keeping the blood flowing. He referred to North Ammoriss’s newest recon aircraft, a single-seat, high speed ramjet designed hastily to relieve operational pressure on Tornado squadrons. Looking down at the strengthened clear floor beneath him, Ragen saw that they had at last crossed over the coast, and begun their flight south across the sea.
“Could’ve always given the job to those Navy squadrons, much better show of authority I’d say” Ragen silently agreed. The newly-arrived Navy fighter wings would have been a much better choice for this mission. Not even a mad Southern pilot would dare to shoot down an imperial recon aircraft. He banked the Tornado’s grey mass slightly to the right, allowing a flight of Northern interceptors to pass by on his left, their jet-wash displacing his aircraft slightly. Turboprop-driven F7A Tempests, the pride of the Coastal Defence Flying Corps, waggling their wings in salute. Moving back on course, he added a bit of trim, just to make his life easier. The Tornado had once been a nimble beast, matching any Southern fighter for manoeuvrability, speed, and ceiling. Now, however, maintenance problems, inadequate conversion training, and flying accidents had seen the Tempest fleet fade from the public eye, resigned to the role of a noble multi-role workhorse. Ragen patted the instrument panel and smiled within his oxygen mask. With just over 500 hours in Tornados, he was nonetheless a relatively senior pilot, and one of the few who still advocated the use of his type. His musings were interrupted by a new voice in his ear.
“Eclipse three, this is the carrier ‘Kraken’, I am now assuming ground control on behalf of Habra Southeast, acknowledge” Looking down again, Ragen realised that they were passing over a carrier battle group of the North Ammoriss PDF fleet. Far below, he watched as two fighters launched from steam catapults, climbing rapidly.
“Kraken, this is Eclipse three, acknowledged, you have control” Ragen tried to conceal the exasperation in his voice. If only they could get their hands on some of those airborne command systems the navy had, his life would be so much easier. Instead, ground control of an aircraft was constantly changing hands due to poor ground-based auspex systems, not to mention controllers who were barely competent.
“Eclipse three, form up on fighters rising to join you. Buckler flight will be acting as your escort” The new Tempests covered the altitude quickly, waggling their wings in silent greeting.
“Please clarify Kraken, orders from StratOps were to conduct this sortie alone” Ragen cocked an eyebrow. True to what he said, he had been ordered to fly without an armed escort to add an element of innocence to his mission. Clearly someone high up was desperate to know what the Southern fleet had been up to.
“Eclipse three, StratOps has obviously had a change of heart. Form up on escorts and continue with your operation. Kraken out” Once again, Ragen sighed, rocking his wings as the Tempests took up position either side of him. They bore the level of customisation permitted only with seafaring squadrons where regulations were slack. To his portside, “Red Jester”, obviously Buckler Lead, sported a large red diamond on its top profile, as well as its vertical stabiliser. The pilot and his backseater each gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up, taking it in turns so that one was always watching the sky. Clearly a professional aircrew in spite of their deviations from normal camouflage. Buckler lead deserved his command, thought Ragen. Looking on his other side, however, he was not impressed. Buckler two was clearly new to his post, flying a factory-fresh aircraft, constantly adjusting his attitude and clearly struggling with his power setting. Closer inspection revealed that he was merely a Pilot Officer, although at least his backseater was a Flight Lieutenant, with a bit of experience. Another ten minutes and they passed the boundary between free airspace and that which belonged to the South. The Northern PDF formation was now fair game. Almost immediately, it became clear to Ragen that they had been noticed, probably by a submarine, there were no surface craft in sight. Over the intercom, Dutton’s voice broke the relative silence.
“Auspex contacts, bearing 173, size of the return corresponds to a three-ship formation. Moving damn fast!” In the rear of the Tornado, he boosted the vox to see if they were in any particular danger. Plotting the track and bearing of the Southern fighters, he saw that they would pass close-by, close enough for a possible interception.
“Buckler flight be advised, we might’ve been rumbled already”, he said into the vox, cycling the autoloaders and preparing his remote weapons station.
“Cheers Eclipse three, we’re watching them. Rules of engagement are to avoid engaging but we’ll be ready” At last the three interceptors began to show themselves on the horizon, starting first as little dots, soon resolving into larger shapes, their canopies glinting in the sunlight. They altered their course, heading for the Northern formation. “Eclipse three, get a couple more thousand feet. We’ll handle these jokers” Buckler lead’s voice came in confidently over the vox as his backseater prepared his harbinger missiles to fire, and charged the two lascannons. Both formations were a long way from home, but the turboprop Tempests were more efficient and would doubtlessly have more fuel available for maneuvers. Doubtlessly the experienced pilot was prepared to keep the interceptors occupied until they had to cut and run. Ragen threw his Tornado into a steep climb; comfortably pulling 4G as he raised the nose quickly and shoved the four throttles into the firewall. He looked down, seeing the bogeys fully resolve into AMY-6 interceptors. Something wasn’t right; they had clearly been firewalling as well. Perhaps they were running to the Northern aircraft for a different purpose. From below, a stream of tracer fire suddenly shot up, ripping the swept-wing off one of the Southern planes, which span out of control and quickly turned into a descending fireball.
“Contact! Hostile element coming from below!” He wrenched the Tornado into a wing-over and spotted four hellblade-class fighters rising to engage. Rolling level again, Ragen felt a surge of adrenalin, continuing the turn until he once again faced North. Behind him, Dutton moved the twin autocannons to full depression and started firing sustained bursts at the ascending fighters, which seemed not to care. They continued their climb, focused on the two fleeing Southern interceptors. Another quickly burst into flames as a tracer round punctured its fuel tanks, rolling wildly.
“We’re on it Eclipse three, cut and run!” Buckler lead inverted his aircraft, following through into a split-s that set him up with a missile shot. Two harbingers raced off his wing-racks towards the Chaos formation, literally blowing a hellblade apart. Buckler two fired off his missiles, which detonated near the lead hellblade, causing light blast damage. The tail-end hellblade viffed, bringing Buckler two into its gunsights and letting off a lethal burst. The rounds punched through the Tempest’s nose, which began to belch out black smoke. “Turn for home, two. I’ll do what I can!” The stricken fighter set a course North, its pilot clearly struggling to hold it level. The hellblade began to turn in on buckler lead but the Tempest pilot, undeterred, yanked his aircraft in tighter and snapped off a burst of las-fire that turned the enemy aircraft into a flying paperweight. Its fuselage no more than a fused lump of metal, it fell towards the sea. Complete write-off. The lead hellblade, having gained altitude, went into a nose-dive and put an accurate burst of fire into the final AMY-6’s cockpit, sending it into a dive of its own. Buckler lead entered a tight dogfight with the blue, pronged fighter forced to ignore the final hellblade, which had begun to follow the other two Northern aircraft home, intent on killing. Ragen sent his aircraft into a dive to gain some speed, pulling out at two thousand feet, and ran for home.

Wing Commander Jonas “Sticks” Kerr, Buckler lead, threw his Tempest into a tight turn and tried in vain to keep his eyes locked on the vector-thrust hellblade. Either the pilot was extremely over-confident, or he was stupid, but he didn’t attempt to viff to a better position. They turned tighter and tighter, each jinking slightly to try and gain an advantage, quickly losing altitude as they bled off airspeed. Twice, Kerr successfully corkscrewed to get the enemy in his sights, only firing off brief snapshots. Ten thousand feet, and the hellblade finally swung into a firing position in a violent tail-slide, grazing the Tempest’s fuselage with a flurry of bolt-rounds. Kerr shoved the stick forwards, sending his aircraft into a nose-dive, watching the altitude symbol on his instrument panel rapidly wind down as tracer rounds flickered past his canopy. At five thousand, he yanked the stick back, pulling 6G and heading into a zoom-climb. The hellblade followed him hungrily, continuing to fire short, wild bursts. Rackham, Kerr’s backseater, twisted his head around nervously, watching the vicious fighter close the distance. A veteran of seven years, Jonas Kerr had devoted countless hours to studying the aircraft of the archenemy down to the most miniscule details. He felt his Tempest buffeting as it approached a stall, but maintained his flight path, jinking only slightly to avoid the agitated fire of his enemy. While his peers judged the short, docile Kerr as not being particularly smart, he possessed a quiet, confident intelligence that had been enough to get him through years of combat flying with the PDF. It had also been enough for him to notice that Buckler two’s near-misses had critically damaged the hellblade’s turbofan, which could no longer produce the power required to maintain a vertical attitude. It had been enough for him to know with utmost certainty that even in a zoom climb, his opponent would stall first.
“Sticks! He’s done!” Rackham called out urgently as the hellblade finally, abruptly keeled over into a dive. Kerr’s Tempest followed as he executed a stall turn, swinging it around with full rudder. He fired off six rapid bursts of the lascannons, which lanced through the hellblade’s weakened structure, crippling it for good. Kerr pulled back out of the dive, swiveling around to head back north, breathing a sigh of relief into his mask. Three kills for the day had brought his career tally to fourteen, just short of a triple-ace.
“Wait, three?” He said in disbelief, feeling a sense of dread creep back into his mind.
“Oh crap, oh crap!” Rackham shouted “I’ve still got one on the auspex, following the others!” Kerr opened the throttle wide, desperate to get every bit of power out of “Red Jester”. Even in a nose-dive, he knew that he couldn’t close the distance fast enough. With Buckler two crippled, “Peeping Tom” was on its own.
Edited by Burnie, 14 Aug 2009, 06:37 AM.
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Burnie
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Not quite as many responses as I'd hoped... but I'll press on! Another chapter will be up in early September, I'm going away tomorrow and I'll try to "storyboard" it out, will most likely start getting some navy thunderbolts involved. Until then take it easy everyone, hope I can come up with something you'll enjoy reading :)

PS. If anyone was interested in collaborating, feel free to PM me with ideas and such.
Edited by Burnie, 14 Aug 2009, 02:20 AM.
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Synge
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Warrant Officer Second Class
Hey mate the first chapter is looking pretty good. There is one section that troubles me...

Burnie: The tail-end hellblade viffed, bringing Buckler two into its gunsights and letting off a lethal burst. The rounds punched through the Tempest’s nose, which began to belch out black smoke. “Turn for home, two. I’ll do what I can!” The stricken fighter set a course North, as Buckler lead avenged the insult with two bursts of lascannon fire, which turned the cockpit into a fused lump of metal.

The underlined sentence doesn't read very well... it seems a bit awkward... though it could just be me not reading be just me not reading it properly :P . Anyways other than what is probably just my gimpy reading, it is an awesome first chapter, can't wait to read the next one :D

*edit PS do most definitely press on*
Edited by Synge, 14 Aug 2009, 04:45 AM.
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Burnie
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I see what you mean mate, I was kinda rushing that paragraph and I can see how you'd find it awkward, I was clearly trying to cram too much into it. With that in mind I've tried to fix it, let us know if it's an improvement (edited in above)

And thankyou very much for the complement, there'll be more awesomeness to follow it up next month :D
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Synge
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Warrant Officer Second Class
Reads much better mate. Looking forward to the return of the awesomeness :P Have fun at flight selection :D
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# Digits
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Shadowkin
A good read so far Burnie! My lads are operating in the Valley, you want them to launch a couple of bolts to help out? lol
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Daemon-Forge
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Major
good Burnie. i dont read meny thing but that was good. great work, now crack on with the next chapter!
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Burnie
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Thanks Digits :) I'd thought about giving the 88th a passing mention but now that you mention it I think your bolts may well see some action!

Cheers Daemon-Forge, glad I could get you to read something :P Next chapter will be up soon
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☺Easy E
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Captain
There is some additional information about PDF aircraft for Ammoriss in the "To lIve and Die on Ammoriss" thread. Could be some interesting source material in there.

Let me know if you need some help on the Ammoriss Background front. I may know a thing or two about it. :D

Edited by Easy E, 30 Aug 2009, 01:53 AM.
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