Thread: My pitiful entry into the campaign

Time: 22:10, 8-9-05

My flight of four was tasked with taking out a factory deep in Serbia. Briefing and recon go smoothly, then it's off to the Vipers.

Surprise! It's night-time! What an idiot. I hadn't even considered that it would be dark. It's blacker than the inside of a bear's arse out there. The taxiway is lit with tiny little green lights, but they're practically useless. The tower's screaming at me to taxi and hold short, but I'm foundering around trying to find a damn runway. Meanwhile, my flight starts taking off without me. Finally I find what looks like a runway and throttle up, much to the chagrin of the tower controller.

Climb to angels 22. The flight forms up on me (I was fearful that they wouldn't) so all looks good. AWACS is calling out threats but they are far off. Better get those lights off. What's the key for that? Forget it, I use the cockpit switches. I start scanning the sky. Looks good. Let's tilt up the antenna - nope, looks clean. Tilt down....oh no. Two bogeys down on the deck, angles 2, moving fast. AWACS declares them as hostile. Not an immediate threat, but I send my element off after them anyway. Snake 1-3 bags two bad guys.

My wingman and I reach the Serbian coast while Snake 1-3 and 1-4 take care of business below. We're greeted with a barrage of AA. We're nearing the IP, so head for the deck. SAM launch! Where? One o'clock. I yank to the right and attempt to beam him. Can't see dink - nothing but black. Turn on the ECM...do I have an ECM pod? I can't remember. I'm looking for the little ECM green light - can't find it. I'm way past the IP and only 4 miles from the target. How in hell will I find it in this darkness? Switch to ground radar...OK...choose my Mk82's....what ripple timing do I

"PULL UP! PULL UP! PULL UP!"

Boom.

Killed by the ground.

Thus ended my first campaign mission on the TG server. It appears that the rest of the Snake flight went on without me and managed to take out the factory. They are better men than me.

And yes, as I went to bed that night, thinking of how many things I didn't know or failed to anticipate, I remembered - the "N" key will turn on your night vision goggles.