|Reunion|

"Nothing is up here with me... I think..."

Flying just below mach 2, Tanker looked out from his craft, trying to spot any signs of danger that couldn't be picked up on the radar.

"Hmm, maybe the clouds on those things act as a damper." Seeing nothing but clouds around him, Tanker started to think back on the first encounter with the moving clouds. "If the fireballs that were launched at me were a result of magic, I bet that the clouds are also a result of some kind of magic as well."

Setting the jet on partial auto pilot, Tanker began to recount on the things that just occurred. Trying to make sense of anything worthwhile.

UNKNOWN|C.S. ZEPHYR|UNKNOWN

"So, Rage 2 returned but Rage 1 is still out there somewhere huh..." Vardan grumbled, "What do you say Piff? Send out Search and Rescue (S&R)?"

"Yeah, I want to send out S&R, but I don't know how much we should send." Flight Master Piff responded, "It's another world, right? There's a huge risk we would be taking if we do send it out, there could be mass loss; thanks to Rage 2's discovery of that village and its inhabitants, we have to watch out for accidental conflict."

"Pfft" Vardan burst out laughing, "Since when have we worried about starting wars huh? Send out the full fleet, we can't be losing our pilots on the first operation, now can we?"

"Heh, nope, definitely no. I'm sure the guys flying all over the place making friends along the way, we just need to bail him out." Piff chuckled back, "Full fleet, fully armed, just like old times, right?"

"Just like old times."

BWOOP BWOOP

<<GRETH GROUP, OIVER GROUP, STAND BY FOR DEPLOYMENT>>

"Finally, they're letting us up back into the air, GRETH GROUP! TAKE BACK THE SKIES!!"

""YEAAAAAAAAH!!!!""

"Ya'll hear that? Oiver group time to deploy. Let's get our wings to shine again."

""YES SIR!!""

Both groups race out of their quarters up to the hangers where their jets await them. As they strap into their cockpits, their helmets head up display (Hud) turned on and all connected to the carrier wartime information control system.

"Listen up knuckle heads." Piff's voice comes through. "This is a S&R op, the target is Rage 1, He and Rage 2 were part of the forward recon group to find places of value. Rage team went quite far from the carrier so your planes will be fitted for long distance endurance, armament will vary for each role in your group.

"Two Air to Air roles, Two Air to Sea roles, Two Close Air Support (CAS) roles, and the last two will be the rescue roles. In total with both groups being deployed together, there will be 4 of each role. Work together, there will be no competition today, but there will be a bonus if everyone makes it back with the target INTACT. Remember, it's a strange but real world out there, consider everything hostile that's not us.

"Number of hostiles is unknown, number of friendlies is 17 if you count both of your groups along with the target, your flight to the target will be longer than your flight back. This carrier will be cruising toward the area of last contact from Rage 1. Any Questions? No? Good. Sortie ASAP."

During the briefing, all 16 jets were fueled up, armed and set onto the deck catapults ready to be deployed. As they all finish their final checks, Flight Master Piff gives the final OK and the catapult operators launch them all off into the air.

As the jets form up in the air, Piff hands control over to the Operations Officer (OO) Paulina.

"Turn heading 237, Rage 2's last known position lays on that bearing from the carrier. Greth group, Oiver group, bring that heap of trouble back home."

""""Roger that""""

"He's our older brother, of course we're bringing him home. Right guys?"

"Hell yeah, he still hasn't taught us his 'special' moves yet. We'll fly right into hell and keep dragging him out until he does!!"

"""YEAH!!!"""

Watching the jets fly away; Paulina kneads her head, wondering what 'special' move Tanker was talking about, as well as how Tanker became such an idol to all the pilots onboard the ship. Denying yet another squadrons request to join the S&R op for him.

UNKNOWN|IPORIS|ESMALL VILLAGE

High in the sky, a lone jet could be seen with a lone contrail following behind. Tanker, long having given up trying to think of reasons for the events that unfolded before him, sees a familiar sight below him.

"Hey, isn't this that village me and Striker flew by?" Tanker murmured, slowly losing the fight against boredom. "Hmm... WAIT! Doesn't that mean that the radio should've reconnected?"

Snapping awake from the boredom, Tanker begins to tinker with his radio and starts broadcasting on the universal channel with the carrier.

"Rage 1 to all ears, still in the air. Repeat, Rage 1, Tanker, still in the air."

*ZZZZZZZZZT*

"Damn radio, if I knew this would happen, I wouldn't've attempted to add a cassette player to it." Lamenting his past self's decision, Tanker hits his radio a couple times before trying again.

"Rage 1 to all ears, still in the air. Repeat, Rage 1, Tanker, sti-"

"ZZZZZT-ANKER!!-ZZZZZT-ASSHOLE!"

"Huh?!?" Relieved, the mental weight on Tanker's mind lifted off. Ignoring the last part of the transmission, Tanker continues to broadcast.

"Rage 1 to friendly contact, ID yourself!"

"ZZZT- Oiver group flight lead, Marquis."

"Greth group flight lead, Otter."

As they finished identifying themselves, Tanker starts laughing to himself.

'To think the chicks that always needed me to bail them out are the ones bailing me out. What a turn of events.'

"Fuck, why is it you guys coming to pick me up?!? Why couldn't the old man choose the all-girl air groups?" Trying to hide the joy and relief wanting to burst out of him, Tanker starts to ramble off his rescuers. "At least that way I wouldn't have any bad taste buying them drinks…"

"HAHA, You wish old man!!" Marquis retorted, "Sorry for not being your maidens in shining armor, but prepare that wallet of yours!!! We're drinking all night tonight boys!!!"

""""WHOOOOOHOOOO"""

"...Give me a break..."