Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第52部分

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They　were　a　squadron　of　Locusts；　some　maroon；　some　yellow；　some　gold；　and　they　broke　upwards
into　Umbra’s　attack。
Viltry　killed　a　bat　head　on；　but　Jagdea　picked　up　two　that　refused　to　let　her　go。　Darrow　and　Del
Ruth　almost　converged；　and　managed　to　smack　las　shots　into　the　same　hostile；　chopping　it　into
fragments。　Marquall　avoided　getting　his　tail　shot　off　in　the　first　pass；　then　climbed　hard　again　to
help　Jagdea。
The　two　maroon　Locusts　had　locked　down　on　her　despite　her　violent　slips　and　turns。　Any　tighter
and　she　risked　a　high…speed　stall。
“Can’t　shake　them！”　Jagdea　snarled；　gripped　tight　against　the　lousy　G。
“Umbra　Leader！　Speed　brakes　and　drop　out！”　Marquall　yelled　as　he　came　howling　in。
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Vision　closing　into　a　grey　tunnel；　Jagdea　deployed　the　speed　brakes　into　the　slipstream　and
slammed　violently　back　out　under　the　still…turning　Locusts。　Immediately；　she　started　to　recover　with
vector　thrust。　Marquall　came　in　over　her　guns　firing　and　the　Locusts　swung　out　of　his　way　with
some　haste。　One　darted　up　out　of　sight；　but　the　other　went　into　a　dive　and　Marquall　committed　after
it。
The　pilots　in　Blansher’s　half　of　the　flight　all　made　kills　within　twenty　seconds；　though　Van　Tull
was　himself　hit　and　took　wing　damage。
“You　okay；　Three？”　Blansher　called。
“Four…A；”　came　the　expected　response。
Blansher　could　hear　Kaminsky　distinctly　over　the　link。　“Fire。　Fire。　Fire。　Switch。　Fire。”
As　he　came　up；　mushing　off　speed；　Blansher　looked　up　and　saw　Kaminsky’s　plane　flick…roll；
quads　firing；　and　make　his　second　kill　of　the　sortie。
The　remaining　bats　retreated。　Marquall　came　back　up　from　his　chase　empty…handed。　Umbra
reformed；　and　immediately　sighted　the　front　edge　of　the　bomber　wave；　low　and　south　of　them。　They
scoped　more　fighter　escorts。　They　began　their　attack　run　anyway。
Over　the　Sea　of　Ezra；　14。02
The　batteries　of　the　mass　formation　opened　up　as　the　fighters　stooped　in　amongst　them。　In　the　flat；
yellow　light；　the　bombers　looked　like　a　mezzotint　image。　Four　Thunderbolt　wings　were　now
attacking　this　gigantic　string；　and　two　more　were　duelling　with　its　Razor　escorts。
Viltry’s　anti…bomber　expertise　earned　him　two　stings　straight　off　and　Jagdea　followed　his
example；　damaging　a　heavy　raider　that　Del　Ruth　polished　off　in　her　wake。　Darrow　found　a
Tormentor　and　blew　away　part　of　its　engine　assembly。　It　hung　in　the　air　for　a　second；　then　pitched
away　as　if　it　had　fainted。
Del　Ruth　did　a　split…S　then　swooped　onto　a　super…heavy　that　was　dark　red；　like　carrion。　Chains
fluttered　out　behind　the　huge　machine　and　Del　Ruth　realised　they　were　strung　with　human　skulls。
She　banked　in；　not　even　waiting　for　the　sights　to　lock。　It　would　have　been　difficult　to　miss。　She　put
eight　pulses　of　lasfire　into　the　swollen　flank　and；　as　she　pulled　away；　saw　the　aluminoid　skin　shred
and　burst　as　fuel…air　explosions　blew　it　apart　from　within。
Even　as　the　giant　craft　died　and　burned；　its　turrets　kept　firing。　Del　Ruth　felt　her　bird　shudder　as
something　hit　the　underside　of　her　nose　with　huge　force；　tearing　the　stick　out　of　her　hands　for　a
moment　and　knocking　the　plane’s　attitude　through　twenty　degrees。
She　recovered　control。
“Six；　are　you　okay？”
“Yes；　Leader；”　Del　Ruth　responded。　She　checked　her　instruments　and　saw　two　warning　lights　lit；
indicating　damage　to　the　starboard　autoloaders。　“Hit；　but　not　critical。”
Kaminsky　and　Zemmic　had　both　taken　out　bombers　on　the　first　pass；　but　Blansher；　Scalter　and
Van　Tull　were　intercepted　by　the　Razor　escort　before　they　could　do　any　harm。　Van　Tull　had　to　fly　an
almost　complete　figure　of　eight　before　he　shook　a　purple　Razor；　then　almost　immediately　got　the
drop　on　another；　chequered　black　and　white；　that　had　lined　up　on　Scalter。　As　the　chequered　hostile
vaporised；　Scalter　peeled　away　towards　a　heavy　bomber；　firing　on　it　from　its　seven。
The　purple　Razor　that　Van　Tull　had　shaken　reappeared；　swooping　steeply　and　opening　fire　on
Scalter’s　machine。　Bolt　rounds　sliced　down　into　the　starboard　engine；　the　midsection；　and　the　tail；
shredding　part　of　the　rudder。　The　impacts　destroyed　Scalter’s　auspex；　ruptured　his　coolant　system
and　crazed　the　side　screens　of　his　canopy　white。
“Umbra　Seven！　Umbra　Seven！”　Van　Tull　yelled。
Dazed；　Scalter　heard　the　voice　and　looked　around。　The　air　of　his　cockpit　was　full　of　blue　smoke。
He　stared　at　the　shattered　instruments。　The　few　panels　still　functioning　were　a　mass　of　warning
lights。　Overheat；　leak；　pressure　loss；　power　failure…
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“Scalter；　can　you　hear　me？”
Scalter　looked　down　and　let　out　a　sob。　At　least　one　of　the　rounds　had　gone　clean　through　his
lower　torso。　He　couldn’t　believe　the　bloody　mess　was　anything　to　do　with　him。　He　couldn’t　feel　his
legs。　He　couldn’t　feel　anything　much　at　all。
“Scalter！”
“Four…A…”　he　whispered。　“Taken　a　little　damage。”
“Seven；　if　you’re　not　flyable；　eject　for　Throne’s　sake！”
With　effort；　Scalter　touched　the　stick。　It　was　dead；　slack；　all　control　gone。　His　ruined　machine
was　just　flying　straight。　He　looked　down　again。　There　was　no　way　he　could　eject。　No　point；　either。
He　looked　up。　The　heavy　bomber　he’d　been　targeting　was　still　ahead；　cruising　on。
Scalter　put　his　hand　on　the　throttle。　“For　Enothis　and　the　Emperor；”　he　murmured　and　pushed
the　throttle　open。
Umbra　Seven　accelerated　in　a　straight；　unswerving　line　and　hit　the　heavy　bomber　in　the　port
ribs。　A　huge　halo　of　flames　engulfed　them　both。
“Seven’s　gone！　Scalter’s　gone！”　Marquall　could　hear　Van　Tull　yelling。　Negative　G　was
preventing　him　from　replying。　He　was　cranking　round　in　a　murderous　loop　with　a　mauve　Razor　on
his　back。　He　felt　hits　skinning　off　his　armour。　He　banked　hard—a　bone…shaking　shudder—and
managed　to　force　the　Razor　to　fly　past　under　him。　Now　he　was　behind　it。　It　would　break　at　any
second；　Marquall　knew。　But　which　way？
Which　way　would　you　go？　Jagdea　had　always　told　them。　Marquall　went　right；　and　the　Razor　did
just　that　in　the　same　instant。　Target　lock。
Marquall　was　screaming　as　he　fired。　He　knew　it　was　a　kill　before　Double　Eagle　had　even　started
firing。　The　mauve　Hell　Razor　started　to　spin；　then　spiralled　away　like　a　leaf。
Marquall　hoped　someone　had　seen　that。　He　dearly　hoped　that　someone—
“Umbra　Six！　Umbra　Six！　Status？”　Jagdea　started　shouting　over　the　vox。
There　was　no　obvious　hostile　on　her；　but　Del　Ruth’s　Thunderbolt　looked　like　it　was　taking　hits
to　the　nose。　Explosive　crackles　rocked　her　airframe　and　plating　blew　out。
“I　don’t　know—”　she　began。　It　was　the　hit　she’d　taken　in　the　autoloaders　just　minutes　before。
Overheated　damage　or　a　late　detonating　round　wedged　into　the　mechanism　had　explosively　cooked
off　the　drums　of　ammunition。　The　rippling　blasts　were　her　own　shells　exploding　in　the　caissons。　In
horror；　Jagdea　saw　several　detonate　up　through　the　main　hull；　blowing　out　both　sets　of　engine　pipes；
and　another　flurry　wrecked　her　radiator。
Mortally　wounded；　the　Thunderbolt　began　to　dive。
“Aggie！　Pull　out！　Pull　out！”　Jagdea　yelled。
“I　can’t！　Negative！　Dead　stick！”　Del　Ruth　screamed　back。
“Eject；　Aggie！　For　Throne’s　sake；　eject！”
The　machine　plunged　away。　Jagdea　saw　a　flash　of　glitter　and　a　shape　in　the　air。　Far　below　her；　a
chute　opened；　a　tiny　dot　against　the　tungsten　sea。
Lucerna　AB；　15。20
As　they　refuelled　and　reloaded；　no　one　spoke　much。　Fatigue　and　nerves　had　almost　wrung　them　out；
but　the　losses　made　it　much　worse。　Their　hearts　ached　as　much　as　their　joints。　For　most　of　the　pilots；
circulation　and　balance　were　seriously　impaired。　Just　walking　around　the　hangar　was　difficult。
Just　before　16。00；　as　they　were　preparing　to　launch；　Operations　reported　that　the　second　wave
had　broken　short　of　Zophos。　Fought　to　a　near…standstill　after　four　hours；　the　Archenemy　formations
had　turned　back。
If　a　third　wave　was　intended；　they’d　see　it　within　the　next　five　hours。
“Third　time　lucky；”　said　Zemmic。
“Who　for？”　asked　Kaminsky。
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Over　the　Midwinters；　18。23
They　came　back　early。　As　if　hungry；　somehow　sensing　that　they　had　their　enemy　on　the　ropes。　Or
desperate。　That’s　what　Jagdea　told　herself。
The　third　wave　came　out　over　the　coast　in　the　early　and　unnatural　dusk；　seemingly　just　as
immense　as　before。　How　could　they　have　shot　down　so　many　of　the　bastards　and　there　be　so　little
sign　of　a　thinning　in　their　ranks？
The　remaining　eight　machines　of　Umbra　Flight　climbed　with　four　other　Thunderbolt　squadrons
to　nine　thousand；　and　circled　in　over　the　archipelago　as　the　enemy　formations　approached。　The　other
bases　had　put　up　their　wings。
The　line　was　drawn。
Combat　began　at　18。45。　Another　new　tactic　was　immediately　revealed。　Frustrated　by　the　Navy’s
staunch　resistance；　the　Archenemy　had　committed　the　front　elements　of　its　bomber　waves　low；　to
pattern　bomb　the　islands　in　the　hope　of　annihilating　the　hidden　bases　there。　From　its　overall　heading；
this　arm　of　the　wave　was　intending　to　cross　the　Straits　of　Jabez　and　target　Tamuda　once　the　islands
were　done。　The　radiant　ripples　of　furious　detonations　began　to　light　up　the　southern　part　of　the
island　chain。
The　Imperial　planes　went　in　amongst　the　bombers；　cutting　them　out　of　the　air　even　as　they
dropped　their　warloads。
“I　don’t　see　fighters；”　Marquall　called。
“There’ll　be　fighters；”　Blansher　said。
Darrow　made　his　eighth　kill　of　the　day；　then　throttled　up　to　join　Viltry　in　an　attack　on　a　superheavy。
The　tracer　patterns　were　torrential　and　bright　in　the　stale　air。
Jagdea　turned　in　tight。　She　couldn’t　see　Zemmic　or　Van　Tull　in　the　mayhem；　but　she　could　hear
them　over　the　link。　Blansher　and　Kaminsky　were　attacking　a　trio　of　Tormentors。　She　was　about　to
start　a　run　onto　a　Hell　Talon　when　she　saw　the　escort　bats　coming　in　across　them。
“Bats！　Twenty…plus！　Two　o’clock！”　Jagdea　yelled。
They　were　Razors。　Black　and　red；　a　few　bright　crimson。　One　pearl…white。
The　Killer　and　his　circus　came　on。　Two　of　his　wingmen　attacked　and　destroyed　a　pair　of　Navy
Thunderbolts　from　the　96th　who　didn’t　react　anything　like　fast　enough。
“Umbra！　Split！　Split！”　Jagdea　ordered　and　opened　her　throttle；　going　for　the　pearl　leader。　His
evasive　roll　left　her　wrong…footed；　but　she　turned　hard　and　tried　to　get　on　his　tail。　He　refused　to　sit；
vectoring　to　port　and　coming　up　underneath　her。　Desperately；　she　flick…rolled　and　dropped　down
around　him　to　his　right；　but　he　turned　off　sharply　to　port。
For　a　moment　she　wondered　if　she　had　actually　scared　him　into　a　break；　but　then　saw　in　dismay
that　he’d　simply　been　lining　her　up　for　his　two　crimson　wingmen。　Serial　Zero…Two　shuddered　as
laser　bolts　went　through　its　wings。　Jagdea　slammed　the　suck　over　and　tried　to　barrel　under　the
Razors；　but　they　were　as　agile　as　their　master；　and　stuck　tight　to　her　tail。
“Throne　of　Earth！”　Jagdea　cursed；　fighting　to　break　out。　Moving　far　too　fast　for　such　close
quarters；　she　almost　rammed　a　Hell　Talon；　and　bled　speed　miserably　as　she　was　forced　to　duck
under　it。　Another　shot　clipped　her　tailfin。　Two　more　ripped　through　the　sensor　dusters　and　her
auspex　screen　flickered　and　died。　She　vectored；　came　round　stubbornly　and　started　to　climb　between
a　pair　of　Tormentors　that　lashed　at　her　with　their　weapon　mounts。
Viltry　saw　her　plight。　He　pulled　away　from　the　superheavy　he　had　just　crippled　and　lit　his
burners；　spearing　down　through　the　bom