Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第48部分

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Then　she　started　to　push　them　a　little　harder。　Fast　ascents；　rolls　and　power　dives。
“Keep　looking　around　you；　flight；”　Jagdea　voxed。　“Get　in　the　habit　of　checking　both　auspex　and
visual　on　a　regular　basis。　And　get　used　to　what　you　can’t　see　from　your　canopy　as　much　as　what　you
can。　Learn　how　to　compensate；　how　to　pitch　your　plane　to　get　a　better　view。”
After　ninety　minutes；　she　chose　a　small；　uninhabited　atoll　near　the　edge　of　the　island　chain。
“Line　up；　flight；”　she　said。　“I　want　each　one　of　you　to　test　his　weapons。　To　feel　how　they　affect
the　airframe。　Zemmic　and　Viltry　can　sit　this　one　out。”
Scalter　went　in　first：　a　long；　low　dive；　and　raked　the　rock；　both　las　and　then　quad。
“Good　aim；”　said　Jagdea。
“Throne；　it　really　shakes　the　plane；”　Scalter　observed；　banking　away。
“You　next；　Umbra　Nine。”
“Copy　that；　Lead；”　Darrow　responded。　He　switched　on　his　gunsight　and　armed　his　weapons　with
quick；　assured　flicks。　Then　he　pushed　the　stick　and　swung　down　into　a　dive。　Water　and　rocky
outcrops　flashed　by　under　him。　He　set　the　sight　reticule　on　the　rock；　closed　to　range；　then　fired　his
las。　The　shots　streaked　ahead　of　him　and　he　saw　the　fluff　of　impacts。　He　toggled　to　cannons　and
chattered　off　a　burst；　then　brought　his　bird　up。
“Excellent；　Nine。　Little　high　with　las；　but　the　cannon　was　good。　You　might　want　to　calibrate
your　gunsight　down　a　few　points。”
“Copy　that；　Leader。”
“Umbra　Five？　You’re　up。”
Kaminsky　acknowledged　and　began　his　run　on　the　target　atoll。　With　his　left　hand；　he　threw　the
arming　switch　and　turned　the　weapon　system　on；　then　returned　his　grip　to　the　throttle。　The　sight　was
in。
“Fire！”　he　said。
The　lascannons　blasted。
“Select！　Fire！　Fire！”
Now　the　quads　blasted；　twitching　the　machine’s　track。　Kaminsky　rolled　off　the　target　and　started
to　climb　out；　disarming　his　gun　system。　“Racklae’s　little　toy　seems　to　work；”　he　said。
“Very　nice；”　Jagdea　voxed。
She　let　all　three　of　them　do　it　again　a　few　times；　then　pulled　the　whole　flight　up　to　five　thousand。
“We’ll　swing　wide　on　three…three…two　and　then　turn　for　home；”　she　voxed。
They’d　been　going　for　ten　minutes；　and　Jagdea　was　about　to　call　the　turn；　when　Zemmic　called。
“Auspex　contact；”　he　reported。
“I’m　watching　it；”　Jagdea　said。
In　another　ten　seconds；　they　could　make　out　the　flash　and　smoke　of　a　dogfight　ten　or　fifteen
kilometres　to　the　north…west；　out　over　the　sea。
“Operations；　Operations；”　Jagdea　called。　“This　is　Umbra　training。　What　are　you　showing　in　our
vicinity？”
174
“Umbra　Leader；　mass　intercept　underway　on　a　bomber　stream。　Suspected　escort　cover。　Advise
you　push　it　home　and　clear　the　area。”
“Acknowledged；　Operations；”　said　Jagdea。　“Umbra　Flight；　what　you　can　see　has　nothing　to　do
with　us　today。　We’re　turning　for　home。　Come　about；　bearing—”
“Break！　Break！”　Viltry　was　shouting。
Jagdea　and　Zemmic　broke　at　once；　Viltry　and　Kaminsky　going　the　other　way。　Scalter　and
Darrow　were　taken　by　surprise；　but　began　to　turn　out　the　moment　they　saw　the　formation　scatter。
Jagdea　looped　up　in　time　to　see　three　Razors　run　clean　through　the　parted　formation。　Escort
cover　no　doubt；　taking　a　pop　at　them。
She　engaged。　“Zemmic；　stick　with　me。　Guns　live。　The　rest　of　you；　pick　up　Lucerna　beacon　and
follow　it　home　now！”
Jagdea　and　Zemmic　burned　after　the　bats；　but　they　were　already　breaking。　She　scanned　her
auspex　frantically；　and　saw　one　of　the　Razors　descending　through　the　light　cloud。　She　stooped　after
it。
It　dropped　to　under　a　thousand　metres；　then　turned　up　again　sharply。　Jagdea　saw　passing　shots
slip　by　her　wing　and　realised　she’d　picked　up　another　of　them。
“On　him！”　Zemmic　voxed。
Umbra　Ten　rolled　in　on　the　second　bat’s　tail　and　fired　three　bursts　of　quad。　The　Razor　caught
fire　and　went　into　a　screaming　climb　that　ended　three　thousand　metres　above　them　in　an　expanding
fireball。
Jagdea　was　chasing　the　other　bat　when　she　heard　Scalter　on　the　vox。
“He　just　went　right　over　us！　Break！　Break！”　The　third　bat　must　have　found　the　trainees。
The　four　Thunderbolts　had　split；　and　now　Darrow　couldn’t　see　the　hostile　at　all。　The　only
aircraft　in　sight　was　Viltry’s；　three　hundred　metres　down　to　his　right。
Darrow’s　skin　crawled。　Eads　was　right。　He　wasn’t　ready　and　now；　as　soon　as　he’d　got　into　the
air；　he　was　going　to　be　killed。
He　saw　a　flash　and　looked　left。　Scalter’s　bird　was　climbing　and　trying　to　evade。　The　Razor　was
on　his　tail；　firing。
“Break！　Break！”　he　heard　Viltry　shouting。
Kaminsky’s　Thunderbolt　swept　in　out　of　the　clouds；　guns　crackling。　His　shots　went　wide；　but
they　were　enough　to　check　the　bat　and　allow　Scalter　to　break　and　dive　out。　The　bat　went　over
Kaminsky；　then　managed　to　viff　round。　Within　seconds；　Kaminsky　had　got　the　bat　on　his　six。
Two　shots　crashed　into　Kaminsky’s　wing。
“Dammit！”　he　cursed；　imagining　the　disappointment　on　Blansher’s　face。
Instinctively；　feeling　it　now；　he　eased　the　vector　thrust；　and　to　his　delight；　the　bat　overshot　him
and　started　to　turn。
Darrow　saw　it。　He’d　already　turned　his　gunsight　and　weapons　on。
It　was　trying　to　extend；　its　sport　denied　by　the　four　pilots。　Darrow　opened　the　throttle　and　gave
chase；　following　its　attempts　to　evade。　He　let　the　sights　roll　through　it…
Lock。
He　fired。
The　bat　blew　up。　Just　like　that。　A　vivid　backdraft　of　flame　and　flying　scrap。
Jagdea　saw　an　aerial　explosion　underlight　the　clouds　ahead　and　screamed　in　rage。　She　let　the　bat
she　was　chasing　pull　out　and　flee；　and　raced　towards　the　flash。
“Flight？　Flight？　What　was　that？”　she　voxed。
“Hello；　Leader；”　she　heard　Viltry　respond。　“That　was　Darrow　making　his　first　kill。”
Lucerna　AB；　10。20
175
They’d　all　made　a　big　fuss；　which　had　made　Darrow　blush。　All　of　them；　that　is；　except　the　young
pilot　called　Marquall；　who　just　looked　sick　or　something。
Darrow　stood　by　his　Thunderbolt　in　the　hangar　for　a　long　while；　just　staring　at　it。
He　could　do　this。　Starting　tomorrow；　he　was　going　to　be　flying　and　killing　for　Enothis　and　the
Emperor。
He　felt　certain　that　after　a　day　or　two；　he’d　begin　to　get　a　real　feel　for　it。
Natrab　Echelon　Aerie；　Theda；　19。10
The　Imperial　city　was　burning。
From　the　deck　of　the　giant　carrier　which　now　occupied　a　headland　above　the　sea；　a　site　that　had
once　been　an　enemy　air…base；　Flight　Warrior　Khrel　Kas　Obarkon　gazed　upon　what　the　forces　of　the
Anarch　had　wrought。
The　sky　had　turned　black；　and　the　flames　from　the　burning　habs　were　stark　and　red。　The　sea
itself　glowed　amber　with　their　reflection。
Overhead；　the　echelons　of　war　machines　flew　past；　gleaming　in　the　firelight。　He　listened　to　the
lusty　purr　of　their　engines　and　smiled。　As　much　as　his　woven　face　would　allow　him　to；　anyway。
His　litter　carriage　awaited。　The　slaves　abased　themselves　as　he　stepped　into　it；　then　earned　him
down　into　the　deck　space　of　the　giant　aerie。
In　their　hundreds；　the　other　senior　echelon　leaders　and　flight　warriors　had　gathered。　The　bronze
horns　were　sounding　and　the　kettle　drums　beating。　Obarkon　drew　back　the　silk　drapes　of　his　litter
and　greeted　the　nearest　of　his　fellows。　Sacolther；　his　armour　engraved　like　alabaster。　Coruz　Shang；
clad　in　chrome；　his　fingers　sheathed　in　golden　claws。　Nazarike　Komesh；　echelon　ace；　impassive
behind　his　green　visor。
The　drums　and　horns　fell　silent；　and　there　was　only　the　expectant　murmur　of　the　company。　In　the
centre　of　the　great　chamber；　the　giant　hololith　projector　rippled　into　life；　projecting　a　translucent
blue　image　ten　metres　into　the　air。　The　flight　warriors　howled　in　adoration；　their　augmetic　voices
shaking　the　hangar’s　rune…scribed　walls。
The　image　was　of　a　face。　Obarkon　thought　the　face　quite　beautiful；　though　it　also　terrified　him。
He　knew　it　was　appearing　simultaneously　on　every　other　mass　carrier　and　command　base　in　the
conquered　southlands。　Hundreds　of　thousands　of　warriors；　echelon　chieftains；　Blood　Pact　officerlords
and　death…priests　were　all　seeing　it；　and　worshipping　it。
But　as　usual；　Obarkon　felt　it　was　looking　directly　and　only　at　him。
The　face　of　Anakwaner　Sek；　Magister　Warlord；　great　and　awesome　Anarch；　sworn　lieutenant　of
the　mighty　Urlock　Gaur　himself；　began　to　speak。
“Tomorrow；”　it　boomed。　“The　day　of　days。　Who　will　find　blood　in　the　air？”
“We　will！”　they　howled　as　one。
“Prepare！　And　let　the　enemy　fall　in　flames！”
176
GOOD　FLYING
THE　BATTLE　OF　THE
ZOPHONIAN　SEA
Imperial　year　773。M41；　day　270
177
DAY　270
Lucerna　AB；　05。01
“Jagdea？　Jagdea？”
She　woke；　heavy…headed　and　slow；　and　for　one　fleeting　moment；　forgot　where　she　was。　Then
she　remembered　and　it　was　like　a　lead　weight　in　her　stomach。
“Jagdea？”　Blansher　was　standing　over　her。　The　ready　room　was　half…lit。　Jagdea　had　been
slumbering　on　the　couch；　wearing　most　of　her　kit。　Aggie　Del　Ruth　was　asleep　in　the　armchair。
“Give　me　a　second；　Mil；”　Jagdea　said；　sitting　up　and　dropping　her　feet　to　the　floor。
“I　don’t　think　I　can；”　he　said。
She　followed　him　into　the　briefing　room。　Viltry　stood　there；　arms　folded。　The　big；　glassscreened
auspex；　which　relayed　tracks　from　the　main　systems　in　Operations；　lit　the　room　with　its
pulsing　green　light。
There　was　nothing　on　the　screen；　except　for　a　half　dozen　returns　that　the　system　had　identified　as
Imperial　patrols。
“It’s　been　quiet　for　three　hours；”　said　Viltry。　“Totally　quiet。”
“You’ve　been　watching　it　for　three　hours？”　Jagdea　yawned。
“I　couldn’t　sleep；”　said　Viltry。
“I　think　it’s　a　woman；”　Blansher　smiled。
Viltry　laughed；　but　for　some　reason　Jagdea　thought　Blansher　might　have　touched　a　nerve。
“You　got　me　up　to　see　nothing？”　she　said。
“Since　when　has　it　been　this　quiet？”　Viltry　asked。　“They’ve　been　coming　thick　and　fast　since　the
moment　we　deployed　on　this　world。　Before　that　even。　Ask　Kaminsky。”
“So？”　she　shrugged。　“They　wanted　a　night　off。　All　that　murder　and　destruction　can　take　it　out　of
you。”
“Bree…”　Blansher　said；　a　touch　of　disapproval　in　his　tone。
“I　apologise。　Extreme　fatigue　makes　me　flippant。　You　think　something’s　coming？”
“Yes；”　said　Viltry。
“So　do　I；”　said　Blansher。　“I’ve　been　on　to　Operations。　They’re　jumpy。　They　know　this　is　odd。
Every　base　in　the　Zophonian　is　on　standby。”
“Get　the　crews　up　and　prepped；”　she　said。
Viltry　nodded　and　hurried　off。
“Something　you　said；”　Blansher　remarked。
“What？”
“That　we　could　fend　them　off；　deny　them；　unless　they　sent　everything　they　had　at　us　at　once。”
“I　must　stop　talking　so　much；”　said　Jagdea。
“Why　would　they　all　be　down；　Bree？　All　of　them？　Every　last　machine？　Why　would　they　be
doing　that　if　they　weren’t　aiming　and　fuelling　and　fitting　their　entire　air　command？”
A　buzzer　sounded　and　Jagdea　jumped。　It　was　the　vox　intercom。　Blansher　lifted　the　set　and
answered。　“Hangar　three　Umbra。　Yes；　sir。　I　see。　Show　us　ready。”
He　hung　up。　“We’ve　just　gone　to　primary　standby。　Long　range　auspex　has　detected　a　significant
background　temperature　rise　in　the　air　above　the　southern　coast。”
“Meaning？”
178
He　shrugged。　“Maybe　an　awful　lot　of　engines　just　started　up　at　the　same　time。”
The　hangar　lights　came　on。　Fitters　scrambled　to　perform　last　minute　pre…flight。　Only　the　vaguest
hint　of　dawn　fell　in　through　the　hangar　mouth。　Marquall　could　smell　the　cold　sea；　the　air。　He　fought
his　nerves。　Everyone　was　tense。　Some　because　t