"All aircraft, call in." I called out to my team as I adjusted the settings on my craft. Briefly looking up at the peculiar magic distortion further beyond the clouds before I returned to doing my job.
"Here."
"Same."
"Yes, again."
"Stuff it, you."
"Loud and clear."
They began to say, comment and retort. Some responses provoked bickering from others, but, we were orderly. Everything was so far going fine but we all knew what we had to do. Mislead and misdirect the Valkinvar from our heavy lancers whilst screening the Thunderous Brawler.
"Check payloads and begin your descent." I remind them one final time as I take the lead and head down.
"Valkinvar-Imdvarce in pursuit." one of my rear pilots called out before there was sudden static from him.
"Release payloads if necessary." I tell my pilots calmly as I briefly glance at the flaming debris catching up to me.
"Long Battery is in sight, heavy lancers crossing the Batterywatch."
"Keep them on us." I remind them calmly as I move my hand up to flick some switches. An explosion then went off on my left before an armoured woman shot across my front.
"Breaking formation." one of my pilots called out as they veered away from the main formation.
"Copy that, all follow the example." I tell them calmly as my aircraft suddenly shakes violently as one of my neighbours goes up in flames. Somehow, I was still dropping fast despite holding the lead.
"Lead, you got one on your engines. Shooting them off, hold steady." someone told me as my eyes briefly tried to go as far back as they could. But with a neck that would not move, I saw nothing beyond my cockpit.
"Fire away." I acknowledge calmly as I heard metal crunch and shear. I heard it loud and clear on the outside and through the vibrations it sent through me. My hull then began to pop open as missed rounds wounded my craft further.
"You're losing control." someone points out to me before I watch their craft suddenly get bisected. And true to their final words, I was having some trouble maintaining my angle of approach. The Valkinvar suddenly launching off of my rear had forced me elsewhere and damaged my rear.
"Directional fins are gone or locked up. I cannot pull up." I tell my men calmly after realising what that had done.
"You'll miss the target." I was informed as the mountain came more into view than the fortress.
"Stay clear of my rear, I'm building up a bigger load." I tell them as I do a full reverse on what I had done earlier. Warnings then blared off all around me as my craft failed to grasp our situation.
"Hold her steady, I'm coming in over head." I was warned as another aircraft sped up and matched my speed.
"Downwards now, don't worry about my cockpit." I explain calmly as I place both hands on the steering to try and force my directional fins.
"Incoming!" they let out before they went quiet. And their aircraft suddenly rolled off of mine and tumbled to its doom.
"Release loads and break off from me." I tell my men as my ears started to swell up. The thudding in my chest was becoming painful and sparks were blasting against my face.
"Jhrarda guide your aim!" someone told me just before they flung upwards and dropped their magic bombs on the fortress. But, as we knew, nothing was getting past that mist barrier. The bombs lost their form and barely blew it away.
"Stay safe, you lot, pull back from the battle." I told my men with a smile as a tower came into sight.