In front of me, at a slightly higher altitude.
10 enemy aircrafts. No, there are at least 20.
“Get back. There are still even more enemies toward the deeper end!”
“Are you going to thrust into them? Or, are you going to get back?”
“I will thrust into them, and then get back.”
“Okay. You are impressive.”
Although I said nothing, I let my airframe roll, and then checked upward and downward.
There was no consort plane above. They could not come all the way to the airspace around me.
Below me, many aircrafts were jumbled up.
“So many of them.” Someone commented.
The enemy aircrafts outnumber ours. I have noticed it intuitively. But the problem lies in the number of enemies around me.
The enemy aircrafts divided into two groups, to the right and left. They were approaching me while forming a file. It was a fairly beautiful formation.
I gradually climbed up.
“You need not worry about anything.”
“They are the aircrafts we have never seen, aren’t they?”
The enemies from the left were coming first. Shall I avoid them, or intercept them? Our formation was already collapsed.
I was worried about the moves that my consort aircrafts were making, but I had no time for that. I banked to the right and gained the speed.
Coming from the left.
Up.
High throttle.
I nearly grazing the airframe of a consort aircraft, and then ascended.
“That was risky. Is it you, Deadeye?”
“Pardon me.”
I half-rolled, and descended while executing an Immelmann turn.
I rolled over again and then went up.
Going back to the horizontal flight, and rolling.
The pack from the left was already behind me.
The ones on the right were spreading.
Coming from above.
Instantly, I choked the throttle.
Up.
From behind to the right.
Am I about to get shot?
One was passing by below me.
Down.
Flaps.
Holding down the aircraft nose ..., can I fire the shot?
I don’t think so.
Another one was behind me.
And, there was yet another one from the right.
High throttle.
I dared to just fly downward. I had no choice but to fall.
It was gaining the speed rapidly.
I put up with making a roll.
I brought the nose toward the upper direction, gradually.
Rather than behind, I check above.
They were following me.
Further descent. That’s not good.
Even though I knew it was a risky, all-or-nothing move, I brought the aircraft back to the horizontal flight orientation.
Drop tank jettisoned.
Bringing the flaps back.
Come on. Accelerate faster.
They are right behind me.
To the right.
Swinging to the left once, and going to the right again.
While turning, I checked behind me.
Flames appeared a bit above me.
One of my consort aircrafts was shot.
Who is it?
“Is there anyone who can lunge forward?” The leader shouted.
“Impossible, in such a situation.” Someone replied.
Impossible. I thought so, too. There were too many enemies.
I should give it up, and dance here.
Are there still the enemies behind me?
I shook the tail. I saw them just for a moment.
Ascend. High throttle.
There was another one above me.
Its course was a bit swerved from mine.
To the left.
Discerning the two enemies on the right.
I looked back downward. It appears that they have given up for now.
There were so many that I could not focus on just one target. While switching from one dance partner to another, I am dancing frantically.
Now, my body is getting warmed up.
My blood pressure is rising as well, I suppose.
Taking a deep breath.
While banking to the left, I choked the throttle.
I checked the sky above me, and then made a turn.
While gliding downward, I executed the rolling maneuver.
I looked for the next target. There were countless candidates.
There were several streaks of black smoke rising already.
One enemy was to my right below. It was chasing one of my consorts.
I adjusted the vector of my aircraft toward it.
While rolling once, I checked the situation around me.
Also looking at the airspace behind me.
Another one might be coming from above, but I still have time.
Choking the engine to control it.
The enemy noticed my move and made a turn toward left.
I had the wings vertical to fly knife-edge to go along with the enemy.
We were getting closer.
Right. Left.
I skidded obliquely, by using the rudders.
Hold it.
Just a little bit more.
Fire.
Pitch it upward, and leave.
Did I hit it?
I cannot confirm it.
I dodged the one coming from the left, by going downward.
Something was flying straight from the upper-right. It was an aircraft on my side emitting smoke.
Inverted flight. Where is the enemy I saw earlier?
Pitch the nose of the aircraft up, and fly toward the ground.
I saw the one that was engulfed in blazing fire. So, it has been hit.
A deep breath. More to do.
Check the fuel.
The oil temperature was rising.
Choke the throttle.
Adjust the trim tab alignment.
I climbed up, while targeting the one above me.
I was sneaking up carefully, while staying below it.
Also, I checked the airspace behind me.
Fly inverted.
The enemy banked to the right and descended.
I followed it.
I heard a roaring sound.
One aircraft was passing beside me from below.
The left wing creaked.
The enemy pitched the nose of its aircraft upward.
I also pulled the stick to deflect the elevators.
Swerving to the left. I could not make it on time.
Skidding to the side by using the rudders.
Fire.
By letting the aircraft bank to the right, I made a turn.
It was shooting at me from below.
I rolled further to the right.
After assuming the inverted flight orientation, I flew downward.
I brought the flaps back to the neutral positions.
High throttle.
Gradually, I was getting into the groove.
I hear the music.
Singing voices were approaching.
Making a turn toward the left.
My body was sinking into the seat.
I brought the elevators back.
I cut off the throttle for a moment.
Full flap configuration.
Deflect the elevators to pitch up.
I looked upward and tried to target the one passing above me, but I could not do so.
Stalling.
Taking advantage of the torque reaction to half-roll.
After checking the situation around me, I fell down toward the left.
Another enemy was coming from below.
I am still having no command over the flight control surfaces.
It’s right in front of me. Fire.
The opponent also shot toward me.
I heard metallic noises from somewhere.
As I descended, I picked up the speed.
I’m fine now.
I made a turn as slowly as the blues.
Many streaks of black smoke filled my sight.
The sky, which had been blue earlier, was already painted grey.
The small images of aircrafts were dancing, here and there.
They were flying around like bugs.
“This is Crimson. Are you still out there?” I heard the leader’s voice.
“Moonlight. I got one of them.”
“Key Box. Over.”
“Dead Eye. I shot down just one so far.”
But no one else responded.
“Anyone else?”
“We have been reduced by a lot.”
“We may want to gain the altitude a bit.”
“Roger.”
Does it mean that there are more consort aircrafts at the higher altitude? Or, is it telling us that we should make use of the light weight of Sanka airframe? The opponents did not quite have the speed, but their turning performance was good. They seemed to be able to make sharp turns fairly well. Dare I say that the type is similar to Sanka?
I started flying easily, more or less. It was because a flock of enemies was breaking away from this airspace. Are they gathering around somewhere?
The four of us also ascended all together. It was the direction to take to return to our airbase.
“Is the party about to be over?” Someone asked.
Only one enemy was climbing up. It was getting closer and closer. I could discern its propeller engine. It was the enemy aircraft of tractor configuration.