Among the Clouds: Author's Note and Intro

[silvado]

Author's Notes: As I write stories when bored, I expect this to take awhile (Like A Day in the Life). This is a collection of short stories, retelling the The Great War in Silvado. There will be accounts of the Airforce and the Airborne. Then the resistance after a Silvanese occupation of San Martin. Anyway let me know here if you want your nation to have an involvement in the conflict.

Now the intro:

Several red dots appeared on the radar at Silvado Armed Forces (S.A.F) Command. City of Riverland was in the path of all the red blips as well... The radios became frantic and officiers were running back an forth in the command center. War had fallen upon The Principality of Silvado.

"This is Sgt. Tomas of the Riverland Militia! We have Silvanese planes over the West Suburbs! They are bombing civilians!"

"Armoured columns can be seen in the distance on Highway 4. Civilians are desperately gathering their closest possesions and running East."

"This is squad car 43, we have a tank on 3rd Street! The police request military assistance, I repea- OH Shit! They just shot Station 9! Mother of God!"

More similar reports followed. Lord General Simmons looked at the satellite feed. The outskirts of the West Suburbs had become a hellish nightmare. Silvanese soldiers firing on civilians, looting homes, burning government institutions... It was a massacre.

"Lord General! We await orders!" Lt. Greas shouted.

"Have all local forces hold the city's center. Send in Schwarze Squadron to give all air cover needed." Simmons calmly ordered, "We'll repel this quickly and be done with this bullshit."

Lt. Greas nodded and ran to the radios.
---
Larkin Airforce Base 250 miles North of S.A.F Command-

The ten Silvadian planes taxied onto the tarmac. Four Mirage 2000D's and six F-16's all armed for multi-roled combat.
"Orders are to defend the city; watch for civilians." Squadron leader Captain Jonash Sveq announced over the squadron's radio, "Take off and head to rendevous point Alpha-Niner-Kappa-Kappa-Zulu."

One by one the planes took off.

[silvado]

Large black fingers of smoke reached into the sky from various points in the city. By the time Schwarze Squadron had entered the combat zone, the Silvanese military was driving towards the city center, nothing seemed to stop them. The ten planes flew in a V formation towards the front, intent on ending the slaughter.

"This is Shwarze lead to squadron." Sveq began, " Hit the lead tanks then rear tanks. Try to box them in and give our ground units an easier time." The squad replied their acknowledgements and the planes broke formation, going in every direction and dropping 500 pound unguided bombs (UGBs) on the Silvanese column.

Sveq jerked the throttle causing his Mirage to roll left and then he dove quickly before dropping his UGBs on the rear of the column. Small arms fire filled the air. Little thuds hit Sveqs wings as he began to climb before going down for a strafing run. The street was covered in fire and smoke. It was safe to bet that there were major casualties on the Silvanese side.

"Hey Captain! Enemy planes are on the screen. I count fifteen of the bastards!" Schwarze Four radioed, "Awaiting orders."

"Sir, this is 5." Schwarze Five said, "My half has dropped our load, permission to engage?" Shwarze Five was a quiet pilot. He used to be cocky, but he had family in Riverland and was intent to kill every Silvanese soldier in the city limits.

"Dammit, understood... I want Schwarze 5-10 to circle and wait for the rest of us to finish our UGBs. Then we all engage." Sveq said and turned to finish his run. He had one UGB left and already had chosen his target; a supply truck in the back of the column that most likely had ammunition. Tracers from the machine guns on the tanks dotted the air. Yellow lines zipped past Sveq's cockpit as he approached the truck. His thumb hovered over the trigger and he checked to make sure he had the bomb armed...

Soon the reticle was on the truck and his finger squeezed the trigger. He heard the bomb dropped and felt his plane lighten as 500 pounds of death landed on to the truck. Behind him he heard a large explosion as ammunition was set off by the bomb. Orange and yellow flames expanded consuming nearby soldiers and vehicles.

As Sveq leveled his plane out and joined his squadron alarms began screaming. He had been targeted by a missile somewhere.

"Captain evade! They're firing!" A pilot yelled as Sveq dove towards the streets below. He quickly climbed back up and made a tight left turn and managed to see the missile strike the ground below, unable to keep up with Sveq's plane.

"They're all over us!" Another pilot yelled before static filled the radio.

"A bandit just got Schwarze 3!" Schwarze 6 yelled. Planes were flying in every direction. And white tails of missiles followed. It was a mess.

"Bandit down!" Schwarze 8 announced before a Silvanese plane slammed into him.

"Shit, we're getting slaughtered..." Another Schwarze pilot muttered. One by one the squadron began to disappear in fire and smoke. Schwarze 9 was chased into a building, the pilots screams filled the radio until static silenced the poor man. Schwarze 2 managed to shoot down two Silvanese planes but had to leave due to lack of ammo. Schwarze 5 was evading a missile, but was riddled with gun fire and his plane's canopy was dotted with holes. He didn't say a word, instead he guided his plane into the Silvanese armoured column below.

"Command this is Schwarze lead, we need back up! Repeat, send us help!" Sveq yelled as alarms started up again. He glanced around, trying to find the missile. He looked forward in time to see the missile flying right towards him... Sveq quickly pulled on the eject lever and felt pressure glue him to the seat as the canopy popped open and the seat launched out. The missile hit his plane and he felt the heat of the explosion. Shrapnel struck his left arm as he pulled the parachute and began floating down towards the city center.... He looked towards the sky briefly to see his squadron pulling out of the fight. He counted four planes flying home...