Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第28部分

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Darrow　followed　Jagdea　down　the　passageways　to　one　of　the　main　staircases。　They　clattered　up
the　stone　steps；　side　by　side。　“You　alright？”　she　asked　him。
“Yes；　mamzel。　I’m　very　fond　of　the　commander。　It’s　sad　to　see　him　upset　like　that。”
“You　know　he　was　only　trying　to　protect　you；　don’t　you？”　Jagdea　said。
“Yes；　but　I　think　there　was　something　more；”　said　Darrow。　“These　last　few　weeks；　he’s　lost
everything。　His　command；　many　of　his　men　and　his　friends；　then　the　base　itself；　and　all　his
possessions　with　it。　I　think　my　company　was　the　last　thing　he　had　to　hold　onto。”
“This　is　war；”　said　Jagdea。　“War　calls　for　sacrifices。”
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“This　way；　gentlemen；”　Jagdea　called；　walking　out　into　the　middle　of　the　hangar　three　deckway。　The
four　aviators　followed　her；　wearing　their　flight　armour；　carrying　their　helmets。　Viltry；　Kaminsky；
Scalter　and　Darrow。　The　latter　looked　especially　nervous。　“Relax；”　Scalter　whispered。
Jagdea　stopped　beside　the　ranks　of　parked　planes。　“We　have　no　time　for　proper　induction。
Apparently；　there’s　a　war　on　or　something。”
The　crew　laughed。
“This　is　an　orientation　flight；　a　shake…down。　It’s　the　best　we　can　do　to　get　you　used　to　the　feel　of
the　real　thing　before　we　start　hitting　combat。　When　I　say　you；　I　mean　Mr　Darrow；　Mr　Scalter　and　Mr
Kaminsky。　Mr　Viltry　has　already　been　on　one　sortie。　But　I　figure　the　more　flying　time　he　can　get　in
a　Bolt；　the　better。　Zemmic　and　I　will　be　flying　chaperone。　Follow　my　lead。　Any　questions？”
“Commander？”　said　Scalter。　“What　with　the　pink　feathers　you　all　wear？”
“Lucky　feathers！”　Cordiale　called　out。　The　rest　of　the　Umbra　pilots　were　waiting　by　the　birds。
He　came　forward；　stuffed　a　hand　in　the　pocket　of　his　flight　pants　and　produced　several　more　which
he　handed　out　to　the　newbies。　They　put　them　on　their　lapels　dubiously。
“Right；”　said　Jagdea。　“Lucky　feathers。　That’s　got　the　important　stuff　out　of　the　way。　Let’s　mount
up。”
“Are　we　scraping　the　barrel　or　what？”　Marquall　whispered　to　Ranfre。　“Two　Commonwealth　nohopers；
one　of　them　a　kid；　that　poisonous　cripple；　and　a　Marauder　pilot　who’s　been　through　the
ringer。　I　mean；　he’s　got　that　look　in　his　eyes。”
“Viltry　did　pretty　damn　well　yesterday；”　Ranfre　said。
“Even　so；”　said　Marquall。　Viltry’s　score　from　the　previous　day　still　irked　him。
Primers　began　to　crackle　and　fire　the　engines　on　the　six　planes。　Scalter　settled　into　his　cockpit
and　ran　his　hands　around　the　edges　of　it　with　a　grin　on　his　face。　Kaminsky　allowed　the　fitter　to
fasten　his　harness；　then　used　his　good　hand　to　fix　his　prosthetic　around　the　stick。
“Okay；　sir？”　said　Racklae。
“The　usual　nerves。”
Racklae　leaned　into　the　cockpit；　strapped　the　speaker　phone　for　the　voice　system　around
Kaminsky’s　neck；　then　plugged　its　trailing　leads　into　the　instrument　panel　on　his　left。
“Comfortable？”
Kaminsky　settled　his　mask　and　nodded。　Racklae　closed　the　canopy。
Darrow’s　heart　was　bearing　fast。　He　kept　licking　his　lips。　Nothing　was　how　he　had　imagined　it。
The　weight　of　the　kit　on　his　body；　the　sound　of　the　Lightning　engines；　the　smell　of　the　cockpit　as　he
lowered　himself　in。
One　of　the　fitters　patted　his　own　ears　and　Darrow　nodded；　switching　on　the　vox　and　testing　it。
“This　is　Umbra　Leader；　let　me　know　you’re　ready。”
“Lead；　this　is　Ten；　ready。”
“Thank　you；　Zemmic。　I　assumed　you　were。”
“Leader；　this　is　Umbra　Four。　I’m　all　set；”　voxed　Viltry。
“Umbra　Five；　Leader；”　called　Kaminsky。　“Ready　to　lift。”
“Umbra　Seven；　check；　Leader；”　Scalter　said。
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“This　is　Umbra　Nine；　Umbra　Lead；”　Darrow　said。　“Systems　clear。　I　am　ready。”
The　deck　officers　waved　them　go；　and　ducked　down。
“Flight；　go　to　lift；”　Jagdea　voxed。
The　Thunderbolts’　engine　pitch　increased　sharply　as　they　rose　into　the　air。
“Launch　to　forward　flight；”　Jagdea　instructed。
The　flight　rushed　up　and　away　out　of　the　hangar　mouth　and　into　the　sky；　lifting　their　landing
gear。
Jagdea　turned　them　right；　across　the　atolls；　and　they　spent　a　while　practising　formation　flying
and　basic　manoeuvres。
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？”
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“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
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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！”
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GOOD　FLYING
THE　BATTLE　OF　THE
ZOPHONIAN　SEA
Imperial　year　773。M41；　day　270
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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？”
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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　they　seemed　to　know　what　might　be　coming。　Others
precisely　because　they　did　not。
“All　right；　Vander？”　Van　Tull　said；　walking　over。　He　was　eating　dried　rations。　How　could　the
man　eat　under　pressure　like　this；　Marquall　wondered？
“Four…A；”　he　replied。　Van　Tull　smiled。　There　was　blood　on　his　gums。　He　was　still　suffering　from
the　hypoxia。　Throne　help　me；　thought　Marquall；　of　all　the　ways　to　die；　all　the　ways　I’ve　imagined
and　had　nightmares　about；　wouldn’t　that　be　the　worst？　Poisoned　by　the　air…mix。　Dead　without
realising　it。
Van　Tull　nodded　over　at　Darrow；　who　was　doing　a　walk　round　of　his　Thunderbolt。
“Lad　did　well　yesterday；　didn’t　he？　Fine　debut。”
“Yeah；”　said　Marquall。　He　was　deciding　whether　or　not　he　needed　to　dash　to　the　latrine　to　vomit。
“He’ll　be　fine。　They　all　will。”
“You’ve　changed　your　bloody　tune；”　said　Ranfre；　joining　them。
Marquall　shrugged。　“Just　hoping　for　the　best；　I　think。　I　hope　they’ll　be　fine—because　if　they’re
not；　we’re　all　screwed。”
Viltry　buttoned　up　his　flight　coat　and　adjusted　his　gauntlets。
He　saw　Jagdea　approaching。　“Anything？”　he　asked。　She　shook　her　head。
“Look　Bree；”　he　began；　“There’s　something　I—”
“What？”
He　smiled。　“No；　now’s　not　the　time。　I’ll　talk　to　you　later。”　Jagdea　nodded。　She　passed　through
the　waiting　pilots。　Zemmic　was　sitting　on　a　camp　chair；　counting　off　his　chain　of　charms；　one　by
one；　over　and　over。　Cordiale　and　Del　Ruth　were　playing　knuckles　to　take　their　mind　off　the　tension。
“All　set；　you　two？”　Jagdea　asked。
“Yes；　ma’am；”　said　Aggie　Del　Ruth。　She　had　such　an　appealing　smile。　Not　what　a　man　might
call　a　pretty　woman；　Jagdea　thought。　Too　stern　in　the　face；　too　heavy　in　the　jaw。　Del　Ruth　was　what
Jagdea’s　father　had　liked　to　call　“cute”。
“Cordiale？”
Cordiale　grinned；　and　patted　his　lapel。　“Got　my　lucky　feather；　commander。”
Scalter　was　chatting　to　Blansher；　asking　him　some　technical　question　about　fuel　pumps。　He
seemed　calm　enough。　Pretty　stable；　that　man；　Jagdea　thought。
Kaminsky　was　standing　alone；　staring　out　of　the　hangar　mouth　at　the　slowly　lightening　sky。
“Are　you　set？”　she　asked　as　she　came　to　stand　beside　him。
“I　think　so；”　he　said。
“Just…　do　your　best；”　she　said。
“I’ve　been　waiting　a　long　time　for　a　chance　to　do　just　that；　mamzel；”　Kaminsky　replied。　He　held
out　his　left　hand。　“I　never　did　thank　you　properly　for　this　opportunity。”
She　shook　his　hand。　It　seemed　odd　to　do　it　left…handed；　but　she　knew　he　didn’t　want　to　use　his
dull　prosthetic。
“I　never　thanked　you　for　getting　me　out　of　Theda；”　she　said。　“Shall　we　call　it　even？”
He　smiled。
“What　do　you　think？”　she　asked。
“Everyone’s　scared；”　said　Kaminsky。　“That’s　what　I　think。　It’s　natural；　I　suppose。　Frankly；　I
can’t　wait。”　He　didn’t　have　to。　The　klaxons　began　to　howl。
Over　the　Midwinters；　05。39
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Umbra　Flight　cleared　the　dock　and　began　to　rise　in　formation；　burners　bright。　Every　other　hangar
bay　in　Lucerna　spat　out　its　flights。　Seventy…two　Thunderbolts　darted　up　from　the　island　plateau；
which　was　now　glowing　pink　in　the　rising　daylight。
Operations　chatter　was　constant。　All　along　the　archipelago；　the　airbases　were　launching　en
masse。　Squadrons　were　snapping　up　from　Limbus；　Zophos　and　the　major　islands；　and　also　from　the
northern　coast　and　the　Ingeburg　stations。
From　carriers　on　the　Littoral　and　the　Peninsula；　a　broad　and　solid　auspex　return　had　manifested。
Jagdea　had　indeed　tempted　fate。　It　seemed　like　everything　the　Archenemy　had　was　coming　for
them。
“Climb　to　eight。　Umbra。　Hold　formation。　Make　your　speed　two　and　a　half。”
They　called　in。　The　sky　was　four…tenths　cloud；　and　there　was　a　strong　northerly　that　would　aid
the　enemy’s　approach　speed。
“Everyone　tight？”　she　called。
“Leader；　this　is　Eight。　I’ve　got　an　engine　warning。”
“Can　you　sort　it；　Marquall？”
In　his　cockpit；　Marquall　fiddled　with　the　throttle。　His　port　engine　kept　misfiring；　juddering
Double　Eagle。　“Trying　now；　Lead。”
The　engine　stuttered　and　then　died　altogether。　Nine…Nine　wobbled　back　out　of　the