Part 44 (1/2)

All systems operating. We can hang around while you drop.” Deacon Docks spoke in a faraway, almost detached voice, as if he were merely a dispa.s.sionate witness, not an embroiled partic.i.p.ant.

”Okay,” Court said. ”Let's join up like we're leaving the area and check each other over for damage.”

”Rog. Level at fifteen, indicating 350, heading 260.” Minutes later Court was in formation. They took turns flying around and under each other, looking for holes.

”You've got a few holes in your right engine bay, but you're not leaking anything,” Court said.

”And you're clean, Lead,” Deacon said after his check of Court's aircraft.

A think we're out of sight now. We'll circle north and I'll go in again,” Court transmitted. He started climbing and led Docks to the north of Rho Magna, then started back south.

He checked in with Hillsboro and Invert for flight monitoring and radar coverage.

They both knew it wasn't smart for Docks to fly a crippled airplane home without an escort. Nor was it good practice for Court to attack a heavily defended target by himself.

Both cases required a witness to call for help in case the other went down. Therefore it was imperative they stay together, plus have Invert and Hillsboro monitor their progress.

”Okay, Toby, this time we'll surprise them and come down out of the north.”

”Some surprise,” Toby said. They both knew there would be no surprises to the alerted gunners below. ”At least they'll have to replot their killing zone and we can pull off into the sun.”

”I'm not going to pull east,” Court said. ”We just saw they're fused for that already. I'll pull west and hope for the best. Let's hope they figure I won't pull off in the same direction twice.”

”Rog.”

”It suddenly occurred to me why they were ready for our run in from the sun, and why they fired barrage instead of individual tracking.”

”Why?” Toby asked.

”They probably do that every day just in case anybody ever had the idea to do a surprise attack out of the morning sun.”

ilk Court maneuvered to the attack position and called Deacon Docks.

”Okay, Phantom Two. Orbit high and dry. We'll pick you up when we come off target.” Docks rogered, and Court readied himself and his airplane to roll in.

”I'm going to make this one different,” he told Toby. ”I'm going to roll in lower, from eighteen thousand, to keep our exposure time during the dive as brief as possible. I'll still release at ten grand. All bombs at once. There's no second pa.s.s.”

”That's what you said last time.”

Court chuckled and put them in a dive, slowly bringing the gunsight pipper to the target.

”Seventeen,” Toby sang out, ”sixteen-”

”Christ,” Court said in surprise. ”I see the big gun. It's rolled out on some sort of tracks that had been covered with sand. And a big camouflaged door is opened in the rocks behind it. s.h.i.+t hot.”

”s.h.i.+t hot, huh? Who they aiming at?”

Court didn't answer. He concentrated on stabilizing the Phantom and compensating for the crosswind that had arisen since his last pa.s.s. He eased the pipper to the gun.

”Fifteen, airspeed 420. Dive angle sixty. Fourteen, airspeed 430-”

Toby intoned.

Court had his pipper placed such that just as his airplane would flash through 10,000 feet and he had his computed release airspeed of 450 knots, he could ripple off the bombs.

He planned on marching them through the gun, then along the track to the cave mouth. If he didn't get the gun, at least he'd get the track or the opening so the 100mm was trapped outside and could be destroyed by another flight. He re-checked his switches by feel.

”Thirteen, airspeed 440. Twelve, airspeed 450-”

Then the sky lit up below them as the 37- and 23mm AAA guns opened up.

This time the gunners were trying to track and shoot directly at him as well as set up a barrage at his release alt.i.tude.

”Toby, we got to go lower. They're barraging ten grand.”

”s.h.i.+t oh dear. We're pa.s.sing through eleven . . . now.”

”I'll pickle at nine.” Court knew the shortest time in the barrage zone was to dive through it. To pickle higher meant they'd bottom out in it; to pickle in the zone would give the same effect. He had to release lower. He steadied the aircraft as a loud explosion went off behind them.

”Ten thousand, airspeed 450-”

Suddenly, through the smoke and explosions in front of his gunsight, Court saw the big gun fire three times and start back up the rails to the opening. Shrapnel rattled off the side of the plane as three more 37mm sh.e.l.ls burst on their left.

”NINE THOUSAND. PICKLE, PICKLE, PICKLE,” Toby yelled.

In a split second Court had to place the pipper short of the gun, otherwise the bombs would fall beyond the target due to his releasing 1,000 feet lower than he had computed. He pressed the small red b.u.t.ton on top of the control stick, felt the bombs ripple off as the ejector cartridges boosted them from the racks, then banked and yanked first left then right.

Two cherry tracer streams played behind them, sending looping fireb.a.l.l.s after their plane. There were no 37mm bursts. With a m.u.f.fled bang that neither man heard, one 23mm sh.e.l.l tore a jagged hole in the trailing edge of their rudder.

Both men grunted to keep blood in their heads as Court pulled seven Gs on the big Phantom. Then they were west and out of the firestorm and able to lighten the G-load and look back at Rho Magna. Four huge dirt-and-gunpowder clouds were drifting down the hill, nearly obscuring tumbling rocks and an avalanche of earth from the plateau.

Smoke and sheets of fire spurted from the mouth of the cave.

The gun-carriage tracks were twisted and bent in the air like a wrecked roller-coaster.

”Yahoo,” Toby cried. ”Look at that gun, will you?”

The gun had been blown off the plateau and down the steep sides. The tube had separated from the carriage and lay like a section of black sewer pipe along the slope.

”Just another day at the office,” Court said. ”It's safe enough now.

I'm going over the site at fifteen thou. Get some pictures.”

Court flew over the smashed gun while Toby snapped pictures with his camera. Court called Deacon Docks.

”Phantom Two, what did you think of that action?”

MEL There was no answer. He called again. ”Phantom Two, check in.”